SIST EN 13038:2012
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity
This European Standard 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 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.
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit
Diese Europäische Norm legt ein gerätegestütztes Verfahren zur routinemäßigen Bestimmung der elek-trischen Leitfähigkeit in einem wässrigen Extrakt aus Bodenverbesserungsmitteln oder Kultursubstraten fest. Die Bestimmung wird durchgeführt, um einen Hinweis auf den Gehalt an wasserlöslichen Elektrolyten in Bodenverbesserungsmitteln oder in Kultursubstraten zu erhalten. Dieses Verfahren gilt nicht für Calcium-/Magnesium-Bodenverbesserungsmittel und vorgeformte Materialien wie Mineralwollplatten und Schaumplatten. ANMERKUNG Die Anforderungen der Norm können von den nationalen gesetzlichen Vorgaben bezüglich der Deklaration der erwähnten Produkte abweichen.
Amendements organiques et supports de culture - Détermination de la conductivité électrique
La présente Norme européenne spécifie une méthode instrumentale de détermination de routine de la conductivité électrique dans un extrait aqueux d'amendement du sol ou de support de culture. La détermination est effectuée afin d'obtenir une indication de la teneur en électrolytes solubles dans l'eau présents dans des amendements du sol ou des supports de culture.
La présente méthode n’est pas applicable aux amendements calciques et/ou magnésiens basiques, ni aux matériaux préformés tels que les blocs de laine minérale et de mousse.
NOTE Les exigences de la norme peuvent diverger par rapport aux législations nationales en ce qui concerne la déclaration des produits concernés.
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določevanje električne prevodnosti
Ta evropski standard določa instrumentalno metodo za rutinsko določevanje električne prevodnosti v vodnem ekstraktu izboljševalca tal ali rastnega substrata. Z določevanjem se ugotovi vsebnost v vodi topnih elektrolitov v izboljševalcih tal ali rastnih substratih.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 28-Feb-2010
- Publication Date
- 10-Jan-2012
- Technical Committee
- KAT - Soil quality
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 04-Jan-2012
- Due Date
- 10-Mar-2012
- Completion Date
- 11-Jan-2012
Relations
- Replaces
SIST EN 13038:2001 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity - Effective Date
- 01-Feb-2012
- Revised
oSIST prEN 13038:2025 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity - Effective Date
- 01-Nov-2025
Overview
EN 13038:2011 is a CEN (European Committee for Standardization) method standard for the routine determination of electrical conductivity (EC) in a water extract of soil improvers and growing media. The method provides an indication of the content of water‑soluble electrolytes and is intended for laboratory conductivity measurement and product declaration. It is not applicable to liming materials or preformed materials such as mineral‑wool and foam slabs.
Key topics and requirements
- Principle: Extract a representative test portion with water (extraction ratio 1:5, sample : water) at (22 ± 3) °C, then measure specific electrical conductivity adjusted to 25 °C.
- Sample preparation: Follow EN 13040:2007 for sampling and determine compacted laboratory bulk density before testing.
- Extraction volumes
- Samples passing a 20 mm sieve: use a sample weight equivalent to 60 ml volume + 300 ml water.
- Samples passing a 40 mm sieve: use a sample weight equivalent to 250 ml volume + 1 250 ml water.
- Filtration: Filter the extract (discard first 10 ml). If paper filtration is impractical, alternatives (centrifugation, glass‑fibre filters) are allowed and must be reported.
- Blank control: Carry out a blank (omit sample). If the blank exceeds twice the detection limit of the conductivity meter, results are void until contamination sources are addressed.
- Calibration and instrumentation
- Use a conductivity meter with resolution ≤ 1 mS/m at 25 °C and automatic temperature compensation.
- Calibrate/check cell constant with potassium chloride standards: 0.100 mol/l KCl (1290 mS/m at 25 °C) and 0.0100 mol/l KCl (141 mS/m at 25 °C). Calculated cell constant must be within 5% of manufacturer value.
- Timing: Measure filtrates within one hour of extraction and report values as millisiemens per metre (mS/m) to one decimal place.
- Reporting: Include reference to EN 13038, sample identification, result (mS/m), any deviations or optional steps, and compacted laboratory bulk density.
Practical applications
- Routine quality control of potting substrates, composts, bark, peat blends and other growing media.
- Assessing salinity risk for nurseries, horticulture, and substrate manufacturers by indicating water‑soluble salt content.
- Product declaration and batch testing in production, formulation tuning, and troubleshooting substrate performance issues.
Who should use this standard?
- Substrate and soil improver manufacturers
- Horticultural laboratories and QA/QC teams
- Regulatory and certification bodies assessing growing media
- Research groups studying media salinity and plant response
Related standards
- EN 13040:2007 - Sample preparation for soil improvers and growing media
- EN ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
- ISO 1770 - Thermometers
- EN 27888 / ISO 7888 - Water quality - Determination of electrical conductivity
- ISO 5725 - Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods
Keywords: EN 13038, electrical conductivity, soil improvers, growing media, conductivity measurement, water soluble electrolytes, CEN standard, substrate testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 13038:2012 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity". This standard covers: This European Standard 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 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 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 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.
SIST EN 13038:2012 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 13038:2012 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 13038:2001, oSIST prEN 13038:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN 13038:2012 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: TP136. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
SIST EN 13038:2012 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.HYRGQRVWLBodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der elektrischen LeitfähigkeitAmendements organiques et supports de culture - Détermination de la conductivité électriqueSoil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity65.080GnojilaFertilizersICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 13038:2011SIST EN 13038:2012en,fr,de01-februar-2012SIST EN 13038:2012SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 13038:20011DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 13038
November 2011 ICS 65.080 Supersedes EN 13038:1999English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of electrical conductivity
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de la conductivité électrique
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit This European Standard was approved by CEN on 17 September 2011.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 13038:2011: ESIST EN 13038:2012
Results of an interlaboratory trial to determine specific electrical conductivity .8Bibliography .9 SIST EN 13038:2012
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