EN 16319:2026

Inorganic fertilizers and liming materials - Determination of specific elements - Determination of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after aqua regia dissolution EN 16319:2026

Publication date:   Jul 26, 2026

Scope

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 cadmium (Cd) and 1 mg/kg for chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn).
This document is applicable to fertilizing product blends, where the 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 Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.
NOTE 2 The term fertilizer is used throughout this document and is taken to include liming materials unless otherwise indicated.
NOTE 3 Dissolution by aqua regia is equivalent to digestion and extract and digest are equivalent terms in this sense for the purposes of this document.

Related legislation

Legislation related to this standard