FprEN 13654-2

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for the determination of nitrogen in soil improvers and growing media. The dry combustion method was developed originally as a manual method by Dumas [4]. Its application is improved greatly due to the use of modern automated equipment and is applicable to all forms of nitrogen.; NOTE 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 composted bark (20 mm to 40 mm, biowaste compost (Rottegrad 3), green compost (Rottegrad 5, 0 mm to 15 mm), solid digestate, liquid digestate, soil improver (pellets, sieved 4 mm, growing media blend 1 (white peat, green compost, wood fibre, lime, inorganic fertilizer (NPK + micro elements)), growing media blend 2 (white peat, black peat, expanded perlite, lime, organic fertilizer) and growing media blend 3 (white peat, black peat, clay, inorganic fertilizer (NPK + micro elements))).

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 13-Jan-2027
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 223/WG 4 - Analytical methods
• Current Stage: 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
• Start Date: 28-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 10-Jul-2023
• Completion Date: 28-Jul-2026
• Directive: Harmonized Standard2019/1009 - Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilising products and amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 (Text with EEA relevance)
• Mandate: M/564 - Fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Mandate: M/564 AMD 1 - amending Implementing Decision C(2020) 612 as regards certain harmonised standards and standardisation deliverables, deadlines for their adoption and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request
• Mandate: M/564 AMD 2 - Commission Implementing decision amending Implementing Decision C(2020)612 as regards harmonised standards, the deadlines for the adoption of those standards and the duration of the validity of the standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation as regards the EU fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Mandate: M/XXX - M/XXX
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 13654-2:2025 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of nitrogen - Part 2: Dumas method

• Revises: EN 13654-2:2001 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of nitrogen - Part 2: Dumas method
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023

Overview

FprEN 13654-2: Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of nitrogen - Part 2: Dumas method is an authoritative European standard developed by CEN/TC 223. This standard specifies a reliable method for the determination of nitrogen in both soil improvers and growing media using the Dumas dry combustion method. Originally developed as a manual technique, the Dumas method has evolved through the integration of modern automated analyzers, allowing for greater accuracy, reproducibility, and applicability across various product types.

This methodology enables the quantification of all forms of nitrogen, which is a critical parameter for the assessment and quality control of soil improvers and growing media in line with European regulatory requirements, including Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on fertilizing products.

Key Topics

• Dumas Method Application: The Dumas method involves the complete oxidation of nitrogen-containing compounds by combustion at high temperatures, followed by quantitative detection of resulting nitrogen gases. This approach ensures comprehensive nitrogen measurement, encompassing both organic and inorganic forms.
• Automated Analysis: The adoption of automated equipment reduces manual handling and increases throughput, reproducibility, and safety when analyzing samples for total nitrogen content.
• Validation and Performance: FprEN 13654-2 has been validated through rigorous interlaboratory studies on various commercial products such as composted bark, biowaste compost, green compost, solid and liquid digestates, and manufactured growing media blends.
• Report and Expression of Results: The standard outlines clear procedures for calculation, reporting, and expression of results on a dry matter basis, enhancing consistency and comparability between laboratories.
• Quality and Compliance: By providing a standardized nitrogen determination method, this document supports product quality assurance, labeling accuracy, and regulatory compliance within the European market for fertilizers and soil conditioners.

Applications

FprEN 13654-2 offers practical value for a wide range of stakeholders in the soil improver and growing media sectors, including:

• Producers and Suppliers: Ensures consistent and reliable measurement of total nitrogen for precise product formulation, labeling, and conformity to European Union regulations.
• Testing Laboratories: Provides validated procedures for nitrogen analysis using state-of-the-art automated combustion analyzers, supporting laboratory accreditation and interlaboratory comparability.
• Regulatory Authorities: Facilitates standardized nitrogen testing as part of market surveillance, product registration, and enforcement activities.
• End Users and Agronomists: Supports informed decisions for application rates and nutrient management strategies based on accurate nitrogen content data.
• Product Certification: Serves as a reference in demonstrating compliance with harmonized EU requirements for fertilizer and growing media products.

Related Standards

For comprehensive quality control and chemical analysis within the scope of soil improvers and growing media, the following related European standards are relevant:

• CEN/TS 17732:2022 - Terminology for soil improvers and growing media
• EN 12579:2024 - Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
• prEN 13040-1:2025 - Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests
• prEN 13651:2025 - Extraction of calcium chloride/DTPA soluble nutrients and elements
• prEN 13652:2025 - Extraction of water soluble nutrients and elements
• ISO 5725-2 - Defining repeatability and reproducibility for analytical methods

By adhering to FprEN 13654-2, organizations can ensure robust analytical performance, foster trust with regulatory bodies and customers, and maintain alignment with the latest European best practices in nitrogen determination for soil improvers and growing media.

Keywords: FprEN 13654-2, Dumas method, nitrogen determination, soil improvers, growing media, CEN, fertilizer regulation, automated analysis, European standard, quality control.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 13654-2:2002
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določanje dušika - 2. del: Dumasova metoda
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of nitrogen - Part 2: Dumas method
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung von Stickstoff - Teil 2:
Verfahren nach Dumas
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de l'azote - Partie 2:
Méthode de Dumas
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13654-2
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13654-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede EN 13654-2:2001
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of
nitrogen - Part 2: Dumas method
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Détermination de l'azote - Partie 2: Méthode de Dumas Bestimmung von Stickstoff - Teil 2: Verfahren nach
Dumas
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13654-2:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 13654-2:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
5 Reagents . 4
6 Apparatus . 4
7 Sampling . 5
8 Test sample . 5
9 Procedure . 5
9.1 Safety . 5
9.2 Calibration of the apparatus . 5
9.3 Determination of the nitrogen content . 5
9.4 Residual moisture . 5
10 Calculation . 5
11 Expression of results . 6
12 Test Report . 6
13 Validation of the method . 6
13.1 Validation in accordance with ISO 5725-2. 6
13.2 Performance characteristics. 7
Annex A (informative) Performance characteristics of the method . 8
Bibliography . 10

prEN 13654-2:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13654-2:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13654-2:2001.
prEN 13654-2:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
EN 13654-2:2001:
— Adaptation of scope and applicability with respect to the EU – Fertilizer Product Regulation [5].
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
prEN 13654-2:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of nitrogen in soil improvers and growing media.
The dry combustion method was developed originally as a manual method by Dumas [4]. Its application
is improved greatly due to the use of modern automated equipment and is applicable to all forms of
nitrogen.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
CEN/TS 17732:2022, Soil improvers and growing media - Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
prEN 13040-1:2025, Soil improvers and growing media — Sample preparation — Part 1: Sample
preparation for chemical and physical tests, determination of dry matter content, moisture content and
laboratory bulk density
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732:2022 apply.
4 Principle
The nitrogen content of the sample is determined by heating to a temperature of at least 900 °C in the
presence of oxygen gas. Mineral and organic nitrogen compounds are oxidized and/or volatilized and
determined as described by the manufacturer.
5 Reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical grade.
5.1 For reduction, oxidation, removal and/or fixing of combustion gases that interfere with the
analysis, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5.2 Calibration substances, pure substances of known nitrogen content, for example acetani
...