Africa Estate Farm Tools
Fertiliser: what does a kilogram of N, P and K cost me?
What a kilogram of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) costs in each fertiliser, so you can compare quotes on what the plant gets, not on the price of a bag. The prices start from Grain SA's monthly report; type your supplier's quote over them and add your own mixes by their South African grade, such as 2:3:2 (22). Enter your programme in kilograms a hectare to see its cost against the fertiliser line of your crop budget.
1. Your crop
Fertiliser line in the crop budget: R 8 099.62/ha (Grain SA 2026-09-04, one total; Grain SA publishes no N, P or K behind it).
2. Prices
Grain SA's average for October 2026 (report of 2026-10-16; the next one about 2026-11-16). It does not say whether VAT or delivery is in it. Your supplier's quote wins.
Add your own product or mix
Type the South African grade from the bag: N:P:K with the total in brackets, such as 2:3:2 (22) or 3:2:1 (25) +Zn. Anything after the brackets is not counted.
3. Your programme (optional)
Kilograms of each product a hectare, from your soil analysis or your agronomist. The tool does not suggest a rate.
The answer
The cheapest kilogram listed: N R 27.39 (Urea (46)), P R 83.48 (MAP (33)), K R 20.57 (Potassium chloride (granular)). Enter your programme in kilograms a hectare to cost it.
| Product | N | P | K |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAN (28) R 11 143/t | R 39.80 | ||
| Urea (46) R 12 600/t | R 27.39 | ||
| MAP (33) R 21 379/t; R 64.78 per kg of all | mixed | R 83.48 | |
| Potassium chloride (granular) R 10 287/t | R 20.57 |
Green is the cheapest kilogram. In a mix, a nutrient's cost is what is left of the price after the other nutrients are valued at the cheapest straight product of each (N at R 27.39); "mixed" means there is no straight product to value the others at.
Kilograms of the element, the South African way (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)). Not how much to apply: that is your soil analysis and agronomist.
Choose what goes along to the other crop tools
What you untick starts from Grain SA's figures in the other tool. Nothing personal goes along: farm figures only.
What this does not tell you
- This does not tell you how much fertiliser to apply. That comes from a soil analysis and your agronomist; the tool only costs the programme you enter.
- A kilogram is counted as the element (N, P, K), the South African way. It says nothing about how much the crop takes up, losses, lime, sulphur, zinc or other elements in a mix.
- Grain SA's prices are national monthly averages of four products, not a supplier's quote, and the report does not say whether they include VAT or delivery. Your own quote wins.
- Fertiliser is zero-rated for VAT for a VAT-registered farmer with SARS's authorisation; otherwise ask your supplier whether the price includes VAT.
- Nothing you enter is uploaded or kept by us; the share link carries farm figures only, never a product or supplier name.
Sources
- Grain SA Input Price Monitoring Report, updated October 2026 (local fertiliser prices, average R/t) (2026-10-16)
- Grain SA Fertiliser Report 2011 (Box 1, the South African grade) and Agrispex (Pty) Ltd product contents (2026-11-01)
- Grain SA summer grain production budgets 2026/27 (2026-09-04)
- SARS: VAT for farming, tax periods for VAT vendors, the VAT201 guide and VAT refunds for vendors (2025-05-22)
Estimate, not advice. Confirm every figure with your bank, attorney and tax practitioner before a decision.