User Experience Evaluation and Testing

We tested SnapPlus (Soil Nutrient Application Planner), a nutrient management planning software developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and several other State of Wisconsin entities. It was developed to help farmers stay in compliance with Wisconsin’s Nutrient Management Standard Code 590. From the SnapPlus website: “SnapPlus can calculate: ● Crop nutrient (N, P2O5, K2O) recommendations for all fields on a farm taking into account legume N and manure nutrient credits consistent with University of Wisconsin recommendations
● A RUSLE2-based soil loss assessment that will allow producers to determine whether fields that receive fertilizer or manure applications meet tolerable soil loss (T) requirements.
● A rotational Phosphorus Index value for all fields as required for using the P Index for phosphorus management.
● A rotational P balance for using soil test P as the criteria for phosphorus management.” SnapPlus is free, downloadable software, but is only compatible with Windows computers. The expected users are farmers, agricultural representatives, and/or people interested in environmental impacts of soil nutrient application. This software is utilized by entering in crop and soil data obtained by laboratory analysis. Our testing goals are to improve the usability of the software for new and existing users, and to
streamline how users work through the program to obtain useful information. Each task should be as straightforward as possible for a new user to navigate. We then look to gain feedback on various improvements that SnapPlus could make to increase user experience.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

UniverCity Year Contact Info
Gavin Luter
Managing Director
gavin@cows.org
608-261-1141

University Faculty Contact
Kyung-Sun “Sunny” Kim
Library and Information Studies

kskim@slis.wisc.edu

Local Government / Community Contact
Lauren Kuhl

Legislative Management System Specialist
kuhl.Lauren@countyofdane.com