ASTM D5539-14

Standard Specification for Seed Starter Mix (Withdrawn 2019)

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling, of soil or soil-like material for seed starter mix. Starter mix may include natural soils and mixtures of natural or artificial materials for use in initial germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage. Seed starter mix shall be able to provide a germinating seed with basic needs such as aeration, water retention, surface crusting resistance, nutrients, soluble salts, optimum pH, sanitation, and bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation. Materials for seed starter mix may include vermiculite, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, coarse sand, expanded shale, clay, slate, peat humus, other peat products, composted organic materials, and other organic and inorganic materials.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the designation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes. This would consist of the duration of germination ending after the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).  
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. Alternate sieve designations in parentheses are as provided in Specification E11.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the designation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes. This would consist of the duration of germination ending after the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D18 on Soil and Rock, this specification was withdrawn in August 2019. This standard is being withdrawn without replacement due to its limited use by industry.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 05-Aug-2019
• ICS: 65.020.20 - Plant growing
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.22 - Media for Plant Growth

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5539 −14
Standard Specification for
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Seed Starter Mix
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5539; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics,
physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the desig-
3. Terminology
nation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes.
This would consist of the duration of germination ending after
3.1 Definitions:
the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms, refer to
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial Terminology D653.
mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial
germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.
4. Material and Manufacture
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.1 The success of a seed starter mix is measured in its
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
ability to provide a germinating seed with certain basic needs,
standard. Alternate sieve designations in parentheses are as
that are outlined as follows.Avariety of materials, both natural
provided in Specification E11.
and artificial, can be employed to provide the characteristics
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the that will fill the need.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 Function—A seed starter media provides a seed (seed-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ling) with four basic needs:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2.1 Aeration to permit an exchange of gases between the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
emerging roots and the surrounding medium,
4.2.2 Adequate seed (seedling) to starter media contact to
2. Referenced Documents
permit water to flow to the seed and seedling root. This
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
function also relates to the media having a sufficient amount of
C330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Struc-
water retention to maintain the amount of moisture needed for
tural Concrete
plant use,
C331 Specification for LightweightAggregates for Concrete
4.2.3 Asurface that does not inhibit emergence. This relates
Masonry Units
to the media’s ability to resist surface crusting, and
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
4.2.4 A bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation
Fluids
and proliferation.
D2607 Classification of Peats, Mosses, Humus, and Related
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Products (Withdrawn 1990)
4.3 Material—Whileonematerialmaybeabletoprovideall
D4531 Test Methods for Bulk Density of Peat and Peat
of the needs of a seed (seedling), a mixture of varying
Products
percentage of at least two of these materials has been found in
practice to yield more consistent results over a wide range of
management practices. Therefore, seed starters are generally
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil
mixtures of materials. The following is a list of materials that
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a
have been used as or in seed starter mixes:
Medium for Plant Growth.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014. Published November 2014. Originally
4.3.1 Vermiculite—This is a natural mineral that has been
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5539 – 13. DOI:
treated with heat until it becomes porous. This material has the
10.1520/D5539-14.
ability to hold a significant amount of water and still allow for
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM excellent drainage. However, it does not provide for good
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
seed-media contact.
the ASTM website.
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4.3.2 Sphagnum Peat Moss—This is a natural accumulation
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. of plant material decayed and decaying under anaerobic
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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D5539 − 14
conditions, and meeting the specifications outlined in Classi- of salts attributable to sodium (Na) or chloride (Cl) must not
fication D2607. Industry-wide, this seems to be the one exceed 10 % of the
...