M/564 AMD 2 - Fertilizers Amd2

This document is applicable to the sampling of the following solid inorganic fertilizers and liming materials supplied or ready for supply, and stored in static heaps:
-   Single nutrient fertilizers,
-   Uniform complex fertilizers,
-   Milled, granulated or dredged liming materials,
-   Any other materials deemed suitable for sampling by the method described in this part of the standard,
for the purpose of testing for compliance with legal requirements and other descriptions and declarations.
NOTE 1   The term “fertilizer” is used throughout the body of this document and includes liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   Manufacturers, importers and sellers might choose to use this method to obtain samples of other products or blends as well as long as both parties to a transaction agree. The build-up of a static heap often leads to granulometric segregation, which makes the collection of a truly representative sample unlikely.
NOTE 3   It is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and sellers, however, to ensure they supply a product that complies with its label declaration at the moment of delivery and fulfils the expectations of the end user at the moment of application.

This document specifies sampling plans and methods of representative sampling of inorganic fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors for physical and chemical analysis, from packages and containers up to and including 1 000 kg, in liquid and solid form. This document covers sampling of products in bulk only while in motion.
NOTE 1   The sampling of bulk heaps of specified types of fertilizers is covered in prEN 1482 3. Sampling for detection of microbial presence is covered by prEN 1482 4.
NOTE 2   The term product is used throughout the body of this document and is understood to include inorganic fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
It is applicable to the sampling of batches of fertilizer, liming material and inhibitors supplied or ready for supply to third parties, as such, or in smaller batches, each of which would be subject to local, national or regional legislation.
This document does not cover complete, statistical sampling plans.
This document is also applicable to the blends of products where inorganic fertilizers, liming materials, or inhibitors are the main part of the blend in quantity. If fertilizers, liming materials, or inhibitors are not the main part of the blend, the European Standard for the main part of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of parts in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. Special care is needed to ensure that the blend is/stays homogeneous and well mixed when sampled.
NOTE 3   It is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and sellers, however, to ensure they supply a product that complies with its label declaration at the moment of delivery and fulfils the expectations of the end user at the moment of application.

This document specifies methods for the reduction and preparation of samples of fertilizers, liming materials, inhibitors and blends and sets out the requirements for sample preparation reports. It also specifies methods for the preparation of test samples and test portions from laboratory samples of fertilizer for subsequent chemical or physical analysis. It does not cover the preparation of samples for certain physical tests which require test portions of more than 2 kg.
NOTE 1   The term “fertilizer” is used throughout the body of this document and is understood to include liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   In relation to the procedures set out in this part of the standard any special procedures specific to a particular test method will be set out in that method standard.

This document gives guidance on a consistent approach to justify the claims associated with the use of plant biostimulants.
This document is aimed primarily at manufacturers, laboratories, researchers, technical centres, and companies that intend to place plant biostimulants on the market, as well as notifying authorities, notified bodies, and market surveillance authorities.
To be in compliance with this standard, it is important to also follow the recommendations and quality criteria described in the standard EN 17700-1:2024 on general principles to demonstrate plant biostimulant claims.

This document is applicable to the sampling of the following solid inorganic fertilizers and liming materials supplied or ready for supply, and stored in static heaps:
-   Single nutrient fertilizers,
-   Uniform complex fertilizers,
-   Milled, granulated or dredged liming materials,
-   Any other materials deemed suitable for sampling by the method described in this part of the standard,
for the purpose of testing for compliance with legal requirements and other descriptions and declarations.
NOTE 1   The term “fertilizer” is used throughout the body of this document and includes liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   Manufacturers, importers and sellers might choose to use this method to obtain samples of other products or blends as well as long as both parties to a transaction agree. The build-up of a static heap often leads to granulometric segregation, which makes the collection of a truly representative sample unlikely.
NOTE 3   It is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and sellers, however, to ensure they supply a product that complies with its label declaration at the moment of delivery and fulfils the expectations of the end user at the moment of application.

This document specifies sampling plans and methods of representative sampling of inorganic fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors for physical and chemical analysis, from packages and containers up to and including 1 000 kg, in liquid and solid form. This document covers sampling of products in bulk only while in motion.
NOTE 1   The sampling of bulk heaps of specified types of fertilizers is covered in prEN 1482 3. Sampling for detection of microbial presence is covered by prEN 1482 4.
NOTE 2   The term product is used throughout the body of this document and is understood to include inorganic fertilizers, liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
It is applicable to the sampling of batches of fertilizer, liming material and inhibitors supplied or ready for supply to third parties, as such, or in smaller batches, each of which would be subject to local, national or regional legislation.
This document does not cover complete, statistical sampling plans.
This document is also applicable to the blends of products where inorganic fertilizers, liming materials, or inhibitors are the main part of the blend in quantity. If fertilizers, liming materials, or inhibitors are not the main part of the blend, the European Standard for the main part of the blend applies. In case a blend of fertilizing products is composed of parts in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply. Special care is needed to ensure that the blend is/stays homogeneous and well mixed when sampled.
NOTE 3   It is the responsibility of manufacturers, importers and sellers, however, to ensure they supply a product that complies with its label declaration at the moment of delivery and fulfils the expectations of the end user at the moment of application.

This document specifies methods for the reduction and preparation of samples of fertilizers, liming materials, inhibitors and blends and sets out the requirements for sample preparation reports. It also specifies methods for the preparation of test samples and test portions from laboratory samples of fertilizer for subsequent chemical or physical analysis. It does not cover the preparation of samples for certain physical tests which require test portions of more than 2 kg.
NOTE 1   The term “fertilizer” is used throughout the body of this document and is understood to include liming materials and inhibitors unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   In relation to the procedures set out in this part of the standard any special procedures specific to a particular test method will be set out in that method standard.

This document gives guidance on a consistent approach to justify the claims associated with the use of plant biostimulants.
This document is aimed primarily at manufacturers, laboratories, researchers, technical centres, and companies that intend to place plant biostimulants on the market, as well as notifying authorities, notified bodies, and market surveillance authorities.
To be in compliance with this standard, it is important to also follow the recommendations and quality criteria described in the standard EN 17700-1:2024 on general principles to demonstrate plant biostimulant claims.

This document specifies methods for determining temperature-time profiles during composting and anaerobic digestion for the production of compost and digestate.
The process monitoring is an organized check and recording of the temperature during a specific time of the composting and anaerobic digestion process.
This document only applies to composting and anaerobic digestion.
This document is intended to be used by manufacturers and enforcement agencies for the purpose of manufacturing control.
The requirements of this document can differ from national legal requirements for the production process of compost and digestate.

This document specifies methods for determining temperature-time profiles during composting and anaerobic digestion for the production of compost and digestate.
The process monitoring is an organized check and recording of the temperature during a specific time of the composting and anaerobic digestion process.
This document only applies to composting and anaerobic digestion.
This document is intended to be used by manufacturers and enforcement agencies for the purpose of manufacturing control.
The requirements of this document can differ from national legal requirements for the production process of compost and digestate.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the content of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc in fertilizers and liming materials using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after aqua regia dissolution. Limits of quantification are dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument, but can roughly be expected to be 0,3 mg/kg for Cd and 1 mg/kg for Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers and liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizers and liming materials is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   The term fertilizer is used throughout this document and needs to be taken to include liming materials unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   Dissolution by aqua regia is equivalent to digestion and extract and digest are equivalent terms in this sense for the purposes of this standard.

This document provides an overview of relevant methods for the determination of specific parameters in solid soil improvers, including:
— dry matter content;
— quantity;
— copper and zinc content;
— chloride content;
— nitrogen content;
— P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) and K2O (potassium oxide) content.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies terminology for soil improvers and growing media.
Annex A contains an overview of all terms defined in this document in alphabetical order.

This document specifies references to methods for sampling of soil improvers and growing media and sample preparation of soil improvers and growing media for subsequent determination of quality and quantity.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies a method for the detection of Salmonella spp. in soil improvers, soil improver blends, growing media and growing media blends. This document applies to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document specifies a technique for the detection of Salmonella spp. on two solid media with different enzymatic reactions, and it specifies a technique for confirmation of Salmonella spp. when presumptive colonies are detected.
NOTE: This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C). Products can change over time regarding their microbial composition and other characteristics, and the formulation of the products can also change in the future

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
Strains of E. coli which do not grow at 44 °C ± 1 °C and, in particular, those that are β-D-glucuronidase-negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected. Some strains of Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. within the family Enterobacteriaceae can also show β-D-glucuronidase activity at 44 °C ± 1 °C.
NOTE 2   This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of enterococci in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
NOTE 2   This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).

This document specifies the general requirements for the preparation of samples, initial suspensions and further dilutions prior to microbiological examinations of soil improvers and growing media. This method is intended especially for sample preparation prior to microbiological examinations of e.g. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella spp. and enterococci.
If a laboratory receives a material/product that is not listed in Annex B but has external characteristics (i.e. hardness, fibrous nature, particle size) like one of the materials/products listed in Annex B, then the procedural steps for sample preparation (pre-treatment, treatment and dilution) are carried out in the same way as listed for the material/product which has comparable external characteristics.
Any special diluents or practices required for particular materials or microorganisms in specific standard methods take priority over the general requirements listed in this document.

This document specifies references to methods for sampling of soil improvers and growing media and sample preparation of soil improvers and growing media for subsequent determination of quality and quantity.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of enterococci in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
NOTE 2   This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).

This document specifies a method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in soil improvers and growing media. This document is applicable to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media comprise the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If soil improvers and/or growing media do not comprise the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard for the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products in equal quantity, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   A soil improver or a growing medium consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).
Strains of E. coli which do not grow at 44 °C ± 1 °C and, in particular, those that are β-D-glucuronidase-negative, such as E. coli O157, will not be detected. Some strains of Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. within the family Enterobacteriaceae can also show β-D-glucuronidase activity at 44 °C ± 1 °C.
NOTE 2   This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C).

This document specifies terminology for soil improvers and growing media.
Annex A contains an overview of all terms defined in this document in alphabetical order.

This document provides an overview of relevant methods for the determination of specific parameters in solid soil improvers, including:
— dry matter content;
— quantity;
— copper and zinc content;
— chloride content;
— nitrogen content;
— P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) and K2O (potassium oxide) content.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies a method for the detection of Salmonella spp. in soil improvers, soil improver blends, growing media and growing media blends. This document applies to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document specifies a technique for the detection of Salmonella spp. on two solid media with different enzymatic reactions, and it specifies a technique for confirmation of Salmonella spp. when presumptive colonies are detected.
NOTE: This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (Annex C). Products can change over time regarding their microbial composition and other characteristics, and the formulation of the products can also change in the future

This document specifies the general requirements for the preparation of samples, initial suspensions and further dilutions prior to microbiological examinations of soil improvers and growing media. This method is intended especially for sample preparation prior to microbiological examinations of e.g. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella spp. and enterococci.
If a laboratory receives a material/product that is not listed in Annex B but has external characteristics (i.e. hardness, fibrous nature, particle size) like one of the materials/products listed in Annex B, then the procedural steps for sample preparation (pre-treatment, treatment and dilution) are carried out in the same way as listed for the material/product which has comparable external characteristics.
Any special diluents or practices required for particular materials or microorganisms in specific standard methods take priority over the general requirements listed in this document.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the dimensions measured and of the bulk density of pre-shaped growing media.
In this document, "pre-shaped growing media":
-   includes solid, regular shaped, stable growing media sold, or which are ready for use, as a growing medium, where the dimensions and any corners are stable;
-   excludes plugs;
NOTE   For the determination of the dimensions and the bulk density of plugs, EN 18250:-  applies [1].
-   excludes solid growing media that has to be hydrated for it to form, varies in dimension with varying water content - for example, coir or peat slabs or growing bags.

Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of Chromium(VI) in solid material by alkaline digestion and ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of nitrogen in soil improvers and growing media. The Kjeldahl method determines ammonium-N, nitrate-N, nitrite-N and organic N content of soil improvers and growing media. Nitrogen in N-N-linkages, N-O-linkages and some heterocyclics (especially pyridine) is only partially determined. [6], [7], [8]
The method is not applicable to liming materials and preformed materials such as mineral wool slabs and foam slabs.
NOTE   The requirements of the standard may differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of the products concerned.

This European Standard specifies an extraction method for the routine determination of calcium
chloride/DTPA (CAT-method) extractable nutrients and elements (as listed in annex B) in soil improvers or growing media.
The method is not applicable to liming materials and preformed materials such as mineral wool slabs and foam slabs.
NOTE   The requirements of the standard may differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of the products concerned.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of nitrogen in soil improvers and growing media. The dry combustion method was developed originally as a manual method by Dumas. Its application is improved greatly due to the use of modern automated equipment and is applicable to all forms of nitrogen.
NOTE   The requirements of the standard may differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of the products concerned.

This document specifies a method for the determination of elements in soil improvers or growing media extracts using inductively coupled plasmaatomic
emission spectrometry (ICPAES)
NOTE 1 Alternatively, other suitable analytical techniques, e.g. inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), can be used for the
measurement if the user proves that the method gives the same results.
This method is applicable to aqua regia extracts prepared according to EN 13650:— 1.
NOTE 2 The method may be used for the determination of other elements, provided the user has verified the applicability.

This document specifies a method for the digestion of soil improvers and growing media using an aqua regia digestion.
Materials containing more than about 28 % (m/m) organic matter will require treatment with additional nitric acid. With high solute concentrations in extract solutions, spectral interferences and background enhancement should be expected.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the dimensions, volume and the bulk density of pre-shaped and non pre-shaped plugs.

This document describes a method to determine the stability of materials (e.g. compost, digestate) used as components (ingredients) in growing media, soil improvers and organic fertilisers by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The oxygen uptake rate is a direct parameter for the degradation rate of biodegradable organic matter that is being broken down within a specified time period. The method is not suitable for material with a content of particle sizes > 20 mm exceeding 20 % by volume.
NOTE   The relation between the degradation rate and the oxygen uptake rate under the same conditions is depending on the type of material, for example by the C/N ratio. So it is important for the interpretation and limit values to be set based on the type of material.

This document specifies different methods for quantitative determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (see Table 1) in compost or digestate, using GC-MS, GCMS/MS or HPLC UV DAD/FLD covering a wide range of PAH contamination levels (see Table 1).
When using fluorescence detection, acenaphthylene cannot be measured.
Table 1 — Target analytes of this document
[...table not reproduced...]
The limit of detection depends on the determinants, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract.
This document contains decision tables based on the properties of the sample and the extraction and clean-up procedure to be used.
The method may be applied to the analysis of other PAH not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.

This document specifies a method for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) in soil improvers and growing media containing more than 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter (0,1 %).
NOTE Samples with a low dry matter content can have an influence on the achievable limit of quantification as defined in the scope (i.e. 1 g carbon per kg of dry matter).

This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological activity using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted material.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the organic nitrogen content in organic soil improvers.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl-) content by potentiometric titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers.
NOTE It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated.

This document specifies a routine method for preparing a sample of organic soil improver, inorganic soil improver, growing medium, compost or digestate prior to chemical analysis and physical testing. The procedures described herein apply only to those samples that are supplied to a laboratory in the form in which they will be used for their intended purpose and to samples with a manufacturer’s guidance for reconstitution.
NOTE 1   The determination of the laboratory bulk density is given in Annex A.
NOTE 2   The results of an interlaboratory trial to determine moisture content are given in Annex B.
NOTE 3   The results of an interlaboratory trial to determine laboratory bulk density are given in Annex B.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the residual biogas potential in digestate in an anaerobic environment.

This document specifies a method for the extraction and determination of phosphonates (P-PO3) in growing media and soil improvers using ion chromatography and conductivity detection (IC-CD).
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the document relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the document decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies a method for extraction, separation, and determination of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in growing media and soil improvers using anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ion chromatography (IC) coupled to ICP-MS.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilising products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the document relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilising products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the document decides which standard to apply.
NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

This document specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of pH in a suspension of soil improvers or growing media.

This document specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of electrical conductivity in a water extract of a soil improver or growing medium. The determination is carried out to obtain an indication of the content of water soluble electrolytes in either soil improvers or growing media.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the content of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc in fertilizers and liming materials using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after aqua regia dissolution. Limits of quantification are dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument, but can roughly be expected to be 0,3 mg/kg for Cd and 1 mg/kg for Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.
This document is applicable to the fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants and where the following category: inorganic fertilizers and liming materials is the highest % in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of liquid form by dry mass. If inorganic fertilizers and liming materials is not the highest % in the blend, the European Standard for the highest % of the blend applies. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed of components in equal quantity, the user decides which standard to apply.
NOTE 1   The term fertilizer is used throughout this document and needs to be taken to include liming materials unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 2   Dissolution by aqua regia is equivalent to digestion and extract and digest are equivalent terms in this sense for the purposes of this standard.

This document specifies a routine method for determining the organic matter and the ash content of soil improvers and growing media.
NOTE The loss on ignition (LOI) is often used as an estimate for the content of organic matter in the sample. Inorganic substances or decomposition products (e.g. H2O, CO2, SO2, O2) are released or absorbed and some inorganic substances are volatile under the reaction conditions. Thus, a conversion to the organic carbon content is not possible.

This European Standard specifies a method to determine the macroscopic impurities > 2 mm  and stones > 5 mm in compost and digestate. Macroscopic impurities are contaminants not naturally occurring in soil such as pieces of glass, metal, plastics, rubber, cigarette buds etc.) This method is not able to make a distinction between compostable and non-compostable plastics.
Fragments of wood or bark are acceptable constituents of the sample and not classified as macroscopic impurities.

This document describes a method to determine the stability of materials (e.g. compost, digestate) used as components (ingredients) in growing media, soil improvers and organic fertilisers by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The oxygen uptake rate is a direct parameter for the degradation rate of biodegradable organic matter that is being broken down within a specified time period. The method is not suitable for material with a content of particle sizes > 20 mm exceeding 20 % by volume.
NOTE   The relation between the degradation rate and the oxygen uptake rate under the same conditions is depending on the type of material, for example by the C/N ratio. So it is important for the interpretation and limit values to be set based on the type of material.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the chloride (Cl-) content by potentiometric titration. This method is applicable to growing media and soil improvers.
NOTE It is possible to use other analytical techniques (e.g. ion chromatography, discrete analyser, continuous flow analyser); in this case a validation is carried out by the laboratory for the procedure and data generated.