What does 5 – 4 – 2 analysis mean?

In the chicken manure business, when somebody gives you an analysis with three numbers, what does this mean?

For example, you call us and we tell you that our analysis is 5 – 4 – 2, what does this mean?

Typically, an NP & K analysis is delivered as three numbers. It could be 5 – 4 – 2, it could be 4 – 3 – 2, or anything.

These numbers are percentages of one ton of chicken manure.

5% Nitrogen = 100 lbs of Nitrogen per ton.

4% Phosphorus = 80 lbs per ton.

2% Potassium = 40 lbs per ton.