prEN 15960

Overview

The prEN 15960 standard, developed by CEN (European Committee for Standardization), specifies a reliable method for the extraction of total calcium, total magnesium, total sodium, and total sulfur (in the form of sulfates) from inorganic fertilizers. This standardized procedure involves boiling the fertilizer sample in diluted mineral acid, enabling accurate nutrient analysis through a single extract. Scheduled to supersede EN 15960:2011, this updated version improves process consistency and aligns with current testing needs in fertilizer quality control.

This method is essential for laboratories and manufacturers aiming to determine key nutrient contents in inorganic fertilizers, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards across Europe and beyond.

Key Topics

• Scope: Applicable to inorganic fertilizers for extracting total calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and sulfur (S) as sulfates using diluted hydrochloric acid.
• Sample Preparation: Emphasizes representative sampling and homogeneity, recommending sample grinding based on EN 1482-2.
• Reagents: Requires analytical-grade reagents, especially distilled or demineralized water with low electrical conductivity (<0.5 mS/m at 25 °C) and diluted hydrochloric acid (1:1 mixture of concentrated HCl with water).
• Extraction Procedure:
  • Weigh 5 g of the fertilizer sample (or 1 g if sulfur exceeds 15% or calcium exceeds 18.8%).
  • Add approximately 400 ml distilled water and 50 ml diluted hydrochloric acid gradually.
  • Cover with a watch glass and boil for 30 minutes.
  • Cool, stir occasionally, decant into a graduated flask, then filter.
  • The extract must be clear, ready for nutrient determination.
• Test Reporting: Includes comprehensive documentation requirements such as sample identity, method references, sampling dates, extraction dates, and any deviations or incidents during testing.

Applications

prEN 15960 is crucial for:

• Fertilizer Quality Control: Facilitates reliable quantification of key plant nutrients, ensuring products meet strict fertilization standards.
• Regulatory Compliance: Supports compliance with European regulations by standardizing nutrient extraction and analysis protocols.
• Agricultural Research: Provides researchers with a consistent method to examine nutrient availability in fertilizers, aiding fertilizer development and agronomic studies.
• Laboratory Testing Services: Assists commercial labs in delivering precise and reproducible nutrient content reports for fertilizer manufacturers and distributors.
• Raw Material Assessment: Enables evaluation of raw inorganic fertilizer materials before formulation and distribution.

Related Standards

For comprehensive fertilizer analysis and sampling, prEN 15960 refers to and complements several other standards:

• EN 1482-1: Sampling and sample preparation - General sampling provisions critical to obtaining representative fertilizer samples.
• EN 1482-2: Sampling and sample preparation - Detailed procedures for sample grinding and homogenization to ensure result accuracy.
• EN 12944-1 & EN 12944-2: Fertilizers and liming materials - Vocabulary standards to clarify terminology and ensure consistent use of terms in fertilizer analysis documentation.

Practical Value

Implementing prEN 15960 helps laboratories and manufacturers to:

• Standardize extraction methods across European markets.
• Improve accuracy and repeatability in nutrient measurements.
• Use a single extract for simultaneous determination of Ca, Mg, Na, and sulfate sulfur, reducing workload and resource use.
• Ensure transparent, traceable reporting to support regulatory inspections and quality audits.
• Adapt efficiently to fertilizers with different nutrient concentrations through specific testing provisions.

By following prEN 15960, fertilizer producers, testing labs, and regulatory bodies benefit from harmonized procedures that enhance the reliability of nutrient content data - a cornerstone for sustainable fertilization practices and agricultural productivity.