FprEN 18259

Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of aqua regia soluble elements

Publication date:   Oct 23, 2025

Scope

This document specifies a method for the determination of elements in soil improvers or growing media extracts using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).
NOTE 1 Alternatively, other suitable analytical techniques, e.g. inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), are suitable 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.
NOTE 2 The method is suitable for the determination of other elements, provided the user has verified the applicability.
NOTE 3 This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being biowaste compost (dry HM spiked, Rottegrad 3, milled, sieved at 0,5 mm, dried and spiked), green compost (dry HM spiked, Rottegrad 5, milled, sieved at 0,5 mm, dried and spiked), liquid digestate (HM spiked, sieved 0 mm to 12 mm, spiked), expanded clay (dry HM spiked, milled, sieved at 0,5 mm, dried and spiked), mineral wool (fresh), soil improver (dry HM spiked, milled, sieved at 0,5 mm, dried and spiked) and growing media blend 1 dry HM spiked, white peat, green compost, wood fibre, lime, inorganic fertilizer (NPK + micro elements), milled, sieved at 0,5 mm, dried and spiked)).

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