Calculator · commodity
Dry-matter calculator
Splits a lot into its dry matter and its water from a stated moisture content.
Result
Enter values to see a result.
Formula & assumptions
Dry-matter content from wet-basis moisture
formula v1.0.0 · calc v1 · reviewed 2026-07-16DM% = 100 − M_wb
Applies to: Any commodity reported on a wet basis.
Assumptions
- Dry matter and water together account for the whole mass.
Limitations
- Dry matter here means everything that is not water — it says nothing about composition, quality, or what fraction is usable.
Scope
Arithmetic on the numbers entered. It does not replace representative sampling or a calibrated, correctly-referenced moisture meter, and it cannot detect that an input was wrong.
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (opens in a new tab), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) (opens in a new tab)
Dry-matter mass
formula v1.0.0 · calc v1 · reviewed 2026-07-16DM = M × (100 − M_wb) ÷ 100
Applies to: Any commodity with a stated wet-basis moisture.
Assumptions
- The mass entered is the whole lot, including its water.
- Dry matter is conserved by drying — this quantity is what every downstream drying result is anchored to.
Limitations
- Unit-agnostic: the output carries whatever mass unit the input used.
Scope
Arithmetic on the numbers entered. It does not replace representative sampling or a calibrated, correctly-referenced moisture meter, and it cannot detect that an input was wrong.
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (opens in a new tab), USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) (opens in a new tab)
Water mass from wet-basis moisture
formula v1.0.0 · calc v1 · reviewed 2026-07-16W = M × M_wb ÷ 100
Applies to: Any commodity with a stated wet-basis moisture.
Assumptions
- Wet basis: the percentage is denominated on total mass.
Limitations
- The complement of dry-matter mass; the two always sum to the total mass entered.
Scope
Arithmetic on the numbers entered. It does not replace representative sampling or a calibrated, correctly-referenced moisture meter, and it cannot detect that an input was wrong.
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (opens in a new tab), USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) (opens in a new tab)
Moisture: dry basis → wet basis
formula v1.0.0 · calc v1 · reviewed 2026-07-16M_wb = M_db ÷ (100 + M_db) × 100
Applies to: Any commodity whose moisture is reported on a stated basis.
Assumptions
- Water and dry matter are the only components; nothing else is present or is being tracked.
Limitations
- A conversion between two denominators, not a measurement.
- The result approaches but never reaches 100%, which is the definitional ceiling of wet basis.
Scope
Arithmetic on the numbers entered. It does not replace representative sampling or a calibrated, correctly-referenced moisture meter, and it cannot detect that an input was wrong.
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (opens in a new tab), USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) (opens in a new tab)
About this tool
- Dry matter here means everything that is not water. It says nothing about composition or about what fraction is usable.
- The split describes the mass entered. It does not verify that the mass and the moisture describe the same lot in the same state.
Educational reference — not a prescription
Not a substitute for representative sampling or a calibrated, correctly-referenced moisture meter. It converts the figures entered and cannot detect that one of them was wrong, or was read on a different basis than the one stated.
- These calculators are for education and reference. The quality of any result depends entirely on the accuracy of the values you enter.
- Local agronomic conditions, legal requirements, product labels, and professional advice may override a general calculation.
- Results are not pesticide, fertilizer, irrigation, or veterinary prescriptions, and are not a substitute for advice from a qualified agronomist or your local extension service.