1. What is Dry Matter Percentage?

Dry Matter Percentage (DM) represents the proportion of a material that remains after all moisture has been removed. It's calculated by subtracting the moisture percentage from 100%.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple equation:

Where:

• \( DM \) — Dry Matter percentage
• \( Moisture \) — Moisture content as percentage

Explanation: This calculation assumes that the total composition is made up of moisture and dry matter only.

3. Importance of Dry Matter Calculation

Details: Dry matter percentage is crucial in agriculture, food science, and material science for determining nutritional content, shelf life, and material properties.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter moisture content as a percentage (0-100). The value must be valid (between 0 and 100).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why calculate dry matter percentage?
A: It allows for accurate comparison of nutritional content between samples with different moisture levels.

Q2: What are typical dry matter percentages?
A: Varies by material - fresh produce might be 5-20%, grains 85-90%, and completely dry materials ~100%.

Q3: How is moisture percentage determined?
A: Typically by measuring weight loss after drying a sample at a specific temperature until constant weight.

Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: It assumes moisture and dry matter account for 100% of composition, which may not account for volatile components.

Q5: When is dry matter most important?
A: Critical in animal feed formulation, food processing, and any application where water content affects quality or value.