EN 12579:2024

Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling

This document specifies methods for sampling of soil improvers and growing media for subsequent determination of quality and quantity. It outlines the principles to be taken into consideration when taking the sample and ensuring an adequate quantity is available for testing.
This document applies to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is intended to be used by manufacturers, buyers and enforcement agencies in verifying claims made for these materials. It is not intended that it should necessarily be used for the purpose of manufacturing control.
The requirements of this document can differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of the material concerned.

Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Probenahme

Dieses Dokument legt Verfahren für die Probenahme von Bodenverbesserungsmitteln und Kultursubstraten für die anschließende Bestimmung von Qualität und Menge fest. Es führt Regeln auf, die bei der Probenahme zu beachten sind und stellt sicher, dass eine ausreichende Menge für die Untersuchung zur Verfügung steht.
Dieses Dokument gilt für Material in fester Form (einschließlich vorgeformter Kultursubstrate) und in flüssiger Form.
Dieses Dokument ist für Hersteller, Käufer und Vollzugsbehörden vorgesehen, um die Angaben zu diesen Materialien zu überprüfen. Das festgelegte Verfahren ist nicht dazu bestimmt, für Kontrollzwecke beim Hersteller verbindlich verwendet zu werden.
Die Anforderungen dieses Dokuments können von den nationalen gesetzlichen Vorgaben bezüglich der Deklaration der erwähnten Materialien abweichen.

Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Échantillonnage

Le présent document spécifie des méthodes d’échantillonnage des amendements du sol et des supports de culture qui permettent d’évaluer ultérieurement la qualité et la quantité de ceux-ci. Il indique les principes à prendre en considération pour prélever l’échantillon et pour s’assurer qu’une quantité convenable pour l’essai a été prélevée.
Le présent document s’applique aux matériaux se présentant sous forme solide (y compris les supports de culture préformés) et sous forme liquide.
Le présent document est destiné à être utilisé par les fabricants, les acheteurs et les organismes de contrôle chargés de vérifier les allégations à propos de ces matériaux. Il n’est pas prévu qu’il doive nécessairement être utilisé à des fins de contrôle de fabrication.
Les exigences du présent document peuvent diverger par rapport aux législations nationales en ce qui concerne la déclaration des matériaux concernés.

Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Vzorčenje

Ta dokument določa metode za vzorčenje izboljševalcev tal in rastnih substratov za poznejše določanje količine in kakovosti. Opredeljuje načela, ki jih je treba upoštevati pri vzorčenju, in zagotavlja, da je za preskušanje na voljo zadostna količina.
Ta dokument se uporablja le za materiale v trdni (vključno s predhodno oblikovanimi rastnimi substrati) in tekoči obliki.
Dokument naj bi uporabljali proizvajalci, kupci in pristojni organi za preverjanje trditev v zvezi s temi materiali. Ni nujno namenjen le za namene spremljanja proizvodnje.
Zahteve iz tega dokumenta se lahko razlikujejo od nacionalnih zakonskih zahtev za deklaracijo zadevnega materiala.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-2024
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 223/WG 3 - Sampling
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 10-Apr-2024
• Due Date: 21-Feb-2023
• Completion Date: 10-Apr-2024
• Directive: 2019/1009 - 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
• Mandate: M/564 - Fertilising products in support of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009
• Ref Project: SIST EN 12579:2024 - Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling

Relations

• Replaces: EN 12579:2013 - Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 12579:2024 (CEN) defines standardized sampling methods for soil improvers and growing media to allow reliable determination of quality and quantity. The 2024 edition supersedes EN 12579:2013 and extends scope to include liquid materials and specific requirements for microbiological testing. It applies to materials in solid form (including pre-shaped substrates) and liquid form, and is intended for use by manufacturers, buyers and enforcement agencies verifying product claims (not principally for manufacturing control).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Sampling scope and definitions: terms such as batch, consignment, sampled portion, incremental sample, combined sample, final sample, segment sample are defined to ensure consistent practice.
• General requirements: principles to ensure representative sampling and adequate sample quantity for laboratory testing; precautions for moisture content and handling.
• Solid materials procedure: guidance on number and distribution of sampling points, incremental and combined sample creation, sample volume considerations, and final sample reduction.
• Liquid materials procedure: added for EN 12579:2024 - sampling at source, handling homogeneous vs heterogeneous liquids, mixing methods and special precautions for multi-phase liquids or volatile materials.
• Microbiological testing: specific requirements for sampling, segmentation and laboratory sample preparation to support microbiological analyses.
• Packaging, labelling and dispatch: requirements for packing, labelling final samples and preparing sampling reports for traceability.
• Normative and informative annexes:
  • Annex A: final sample size requirements (normative)
  • Annexes E & F: procedures for sampling bulk and packaged materials (normative)
  • Annex B: apparatus examples for liquid sampling (informative)
  • Annex C: methods of mixing for liquid materials (informative)
  • Annex D: schematic sampling overview (informative)

Applications and practical use

• Verify claims on product labels for soil improvers, composts, potting mixes and growing media.
• Prepare legally defensible samples for quality control, conformity assessment and enforcement testing.
• Guide sampling for labs to produce representative chemical, physical and microbiological test results.
• Applicable across supply chain stages: production, storage (bulk or packaged), transport and receipt.

Who should use EN 12579:2024

• Manufacturers and packers of growing media and soil improvers
• Buyers, retailers and importers performing incoming quality checks
• Regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies verifying compliance
• Testing laboratories requiring standardised sample collection and handling

Related standards

• CEN/TS 17732 (terminology), prEN 13040-1 (sample preparation), EN 12580 and EN 15238 (quantity determination), prEN 15761 (pre-shaped growing media).

Use EN 12579:2024 for consistent, traceable sampling of soil improvers and growing media to obtain representative lab results for quality, safety and compliance.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2024
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 12579:2013
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Vzorčenje
Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Probenahme
Amendements organiques et supports de culture - Echantillonnage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 12579:2024
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 12579
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.080 Supersedes EN 12579:2013
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Sampling
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Échantillonnage Probenahme
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 March 2024.

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, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12579:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 General . 8
4.2 General requirements for sample taken for microbiological testing . 8
4.3 General requirements for liquid materials . 8
4.4 Moisture content . 9
5 Apparatus . 9
6 Procedure for solid materials . 10
6.1 General . 10
6.2 Sampling constraints . 10
6.2.1 Limitations on the sampled portion. 10
6.2.2 Number of final samples . 10
6.3 Sampling . 11
6.3.1 Number of sampling points . 11
6.3.2 Distribution of sampling points . 11
6.3.3 Volume of samples . 11
6.3.4 Incremental samples . 11
6.3.5 Microbiological testing . 13
6.4 Final sample . 13
7 Procedure for liquid materials . 13
7.1 General . 13
7.2 Sampling at source . 13
7.3 Homogeneous liquids . 14
7.4 Heterogeneous liquids . 14
7.5 Sampled portion consisting of two or more containers . 15
7.6 Solutions or suspensions in storage vessels of capacity less than 1 000 l . 15
8 Packing and labelling of the final samples. 15
8.1 General . 15
8.2 Labelling . 15
9 Sampling report . 15
10 Dispatch of samples . 16
Annex A (normative) Final sample size required . 17
Annex B (informative) Examples of apparatus for sampling liquid materials . 18
Annex C (informative) Methods of mixing for liquid materials . 26
C.1 General . 26
C.2 Small containers . 26
C.3 Drums and casks (up to about 1,8 m deep) . 26
C.4 Shallow tanks . 29
C.5 Deep tanks . 30
C.6 Precautions for sampling multi-phase liquids, including slurries . 30
C.7 Precautions for sampling liquids with significant vapour pressure . 31
C.8 Precautions against static electricity . 31
Annex D (informative) Schematic overview from the sampling procedure . 33
Annex E (normative) Procedure for sampling bulk material . 34
E.1 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 1 . 34
E.2 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 2 . 34
E.3 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 3 . 35
E.4 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 4 . 35
E.5 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 5 . 35
E.6 Procedure for sampling bulk material: Step 6 . 35
Annex F (normative) Procedure for sampling packaged material . 36
F.1 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 1 . 36
F.2 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 2 . 36
F.3 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 3 . 36
F.4 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 4 . 37
F.5 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 5 . 37
F.6 Procedure for sampling packaged material: Step 6 . 37
Bibliography . 38

European foreword
This document (EN 12579:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2024, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2024.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 12579:2013.
In comparison with the previous edition EN 12579:2013, the following technical modifications have been
made:
— requirements for liquid materials are added to the scope and the sampling procedure;
— requirements for sampling for microbiological testing have been added;
— addition of the following annexes:
— Annex B (informative) with examples of apparatus for sampling liquid materials;
— Annex C (informative) with methods of mixing for liquid materials;
— Annex D (informative) with a schematic overview from the sampling procedure;
— Annex E (normative) about the procedure for sampling bulk material;
— Annex F (normative) about the procedure for sampling packaged material.
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.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Soil improvers and growing media are very difficult to sample because of the variety of materials used
and the inhomogeneous materials involved. When packed, some of them are also by their nature and the
packaging and palletisation process subject to pressure which results in various degrees of compression
which need to be counteracted prior to sampling.
The task is further complicated by the variety of sampling apparatus that can be used, the quantity to be
represented by the sample and the degree of precision required bearing in mind the cost of testing.
This document gives a sampling method to overcome these difficulties. A suitably competent person
should undertake this sampling.
1 Scope
This document specifies methods for sampling of soil improvers and growing media for subsequent
determination of quality and quantity. It outlines the principles to be taken into consideration when
taking the sample and ensuring an adequate quantity is available for testing.
This document applies to material in solid form (including pre-shaped growing media) and liquid form.
This document is intended to be used by manufacturers, buyers and enforcement agencies in verifying
claims made for these materials. It is not intended that it should necessarily be used for the purpose of
manufacturing control.
The requirements of this document can differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of
the material concerned.
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.
prEN 13040-1 , Soil improvers and growing media — Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests,
determination of dry matter content, moisture content and laboratory compacted bulk density
CEN/TS 17732, Soil improvers and growing media — Terminology
EN 12580, Soil improvers and growing media — Determination of a quantity
EN 15238, Soil improvers and growing media — Determination of quantity for materials with particle size
greater than 60 mm
prEN 15761 , Pre-shaped growing media — Determination of the dimensions measured and bulk density
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
batch
total quantity of material present assumed to have the same characteristics
Note 1 to entry: A batch is produced by the same process at the same time, under the same conditions and labelled
in the same manner.
Under preparation.
Under preparation.
3.2
consignment
quantity of goods dispatched or received at one time and covered by a particular contract or shipping
document
Note 1 to entry: A consignment can be composed of a part of a batch or one or more batches of the same material
or different materials.
3.3
sampled portion
in relation to sampling for chemical and physical testing, the quantity of material from the same batch
from which one representative combined sample is taken and, in relation to sampling for microbiological
testing, the quantity of material from the same batch from which segment samples are taken
3.4
sampling point
point from which the incremental sample is taken
3.5
incremental sample
quantity of material taken from one sampling point
3.6
combined sample
combination of all incremental samples taken from one sampled portion
Note 1 to entry: Combined sample is referred to as aggregate sample in EN 1482-1:2007.
3.7
final sample
in relation to chemical and physical testing only, a representative part of the combined sample taken from
the sampled portion obtained, where necessary, by a process of reduction
3.8
segment
(virtual) part of the sampled portion from which a segment sample is taken for microbiological testing
3.9
segment sample
combination of all incremental samples taken from one segment for microbiological testing to be used as
a laboratory sample
3.10
laboratory sample
in relation to chemical and physical testing, a final sample intended for laboratory testing and in relation
to microbiological testing, each separate segment sample intended for laboratory testing
3.11
bulk material
material not in a package
3.12
package
container and material contained therein which is ready for delivery or delivered and where the
packaging remains with the material after delivery
Note 1 to entry: A package may be a container or loose filled sack typically up to 100 l, a compressed block or bale
and even a big bale, typically of 4 m .
3.13
solid form
form characterised by structural rigidity and resistance to changes of shape or volume and in which the
atoms are tightly bound to each other, either in a regular geometric lattice (crystalline solids) or in an
irregular manner (an amorphous solid)
3.14
liquid form
suspension or solution
4 Requirements
4.1 General
Any final sample collected shall be considered to be representative of the whole of the material of the
sampled portion.
Special care shall be taken to ensure that all sampling apparatus is clean, dry, and made from material
which will not contaminate the sample. It shall be adapted to the batch size, the aggregate state and the
particle size and nature of the substances. Sampling shall be in such a manner as to preserve the quantity
and quality aspects for which the sample will be tested.
4.2 General requirements for sample taken for microbiological testing
Sampling apparatus shall be either unused or have been subject to a sterilization process before use. To
avoid cross contamination, a fresh set of unused or sterilized apparatus or other appropriate steps shall
be used to obtain each individual segment sample.
When using new, unopened plastic bags, the bags do not need sterilization.
Contact with human skin or liquids shall be prevented in case of sampling for human pathogens.
Take segment samples of at least 1 l or 200 g (the material will have the moisture content as received)
and deliver them to the laboratory as quickly as possible and not exceeding a timeframe of 72 h. The
number of samples to be tested depends on the relevant regulation or quality assurance standard to be
followed.
In order to prevent or reduce propagation or inactivation of contained microbes during transport to the
laboratory and subsequent storage, keep the sample at 5 °C ± 3 °C but never permitted to freeze.
Samples (i.e. composts and digestates) can ferment.
When transporting and handling samples, it is essential that national and international regulations
relating to bio-hazardous samples are followed.
4.3 General requirements for liquid materials
For safety reasons, liquid materials containing free ammonia should not be sampled manually. Solutions,
slurries and suspensions may be sampled manually provided the material is homogenized (see Annex C
for methods of mixing and associated precautions).
There is a risk that portions of multiphase liquids, sampled through narrow tubes or apertures, may not
be truly representative. Consequently, it is important to ensure that the internal dimensions of the
sampling apparatus are sufficiently large, i.e. in the region of 50 mm, but at least three times as large as
the largest particle size in the material to avoid this problem.
4.4 Moisture content
The moisture content shall subsequently be determined for solid material using the method specified in
prEN 13040-1 .
NOTE Material which has become excessively wet and which cannot be easily broken down into a flowable
material will not be suitable for the determination of quantity and cannot give a representative analytical result.
However, because of the diverse nature and bulk density of these materials, it is not possible to quantify what is
excessive. Examples are mushroom casing or blocking media that have become excessively moist, or material that
has become excessively wet in storage.
5 Apparatus
The sampling apparatus shall be clean, dry and made from materials which will not affect the
characteristics of the material to be sampled.
The special properties of liquid materials, including vapour pressure and stratification shall be taken into
account when choosing sampling apparatus.
5.1 Shovel, scoop or other sampling apparatus so long as it preserves the characteristic of the
material, and is sterilizable for microbiological samples. Drills with a diameter of at least 3 times of the
maximum particle size may be used.
The release of material in a large batch of bulk material may be done by a wheel loader.
5.2 Apparatus for sample division, comprising any suitable equipment for combining and reducing
the samples which preserve the characteristic of the material.
5.3 Manual sampling apparatus for liquids, a weighted bottle or other vessel, capable of being
lowered into the material, sealed with a device to enable it to be opened at any specific depth.
A variant of this provides for gradual filling of the sample bottle as it is lowered from the surface of the
liquid to the base of its container. Typical devices are illustrated in Annex B within Figures B.1, B.2, B.3,
B.4 and B.5.
5.4 Sample valve on the storage vessel (see Annex B, Figure B.6).
5.5 Sample valve on a loading line out of the storage vessel (see Annex B, Figure B.7).
5.6 Sample valve on an external line through which material in storage is circulated (see
Annex B, Figure B.8).
5.7 Sample containers for the samples to be collected.
EXAMPLE Plastic bucket, plastic tub or plastic barrels in sufficient size.
5.8 Packing containers, air- and water-tight and with sufficient capacity.
5.9 Sterilizing device, to sterilize sampling apparatus where necessary.
6 Procedure for solid materials
6.1 General
In Annex D, Figure D.1, a schematic overview is given where the testing is carried out at one laboratory.
The individual steps are explained in more detail in Clause 6 and Clause 7. The general scheme is
applicable to liquid and solid materials, either in bulk or in packed form. This scheme is not appropriate
when a portion of a sample is left at the sampling location. The sampling procedure depends on the
laboratory determination to be performed on the final sample.
Equal representative samples of one sampled portion can only be obtained by sample division of the
combined sample. This can be the case if different transportation and packaging requirements are
necessary for the analysis of different characteristics, or when chemical, physical, and biological
determinations on the sample are carried out by multiple laboratories. Sample division cannot be
performed on samples that are collected for microbiological testing or bulk density. The minimal required
volume of the final sample is given in Annex A. The stepwise process for sampling from bulk material and
from packaged material is given in Annex E and Annex F, respectively.
Whenever possible, sampling of bulk material shall be carried out from a moving stream making sure the
whole width of the stream is being sampled.
6.2 Sampling constraints
6.2.1 Limitations on the sampled portion
If the consignment does not appear, either visually or from labelling, to be from the same batch or consists
of different materials then the materials shall be sampled separately.
NOTE Production coding can help in identifying the batch.
A sampled portion shall not be more than 5 000 m (bulk) or 10 000 packages (packaged material) of the
same material from the same consignment. If at all possible, packages which are damaged or adversely
affected by the environment shall not be selected as these may not give representative results (see also
NOTE to 4.4).
When sampling packages for quantity determination, each incremental sample shall be treated as a final
sample which shall be:
— either the individual package if it exceeds 30 l for material with particle size no greater than 60 mm;
— or the individual package if it exceeds 70 l for material with particle size greater than 60 mm;
— or sufficient packages to give a content of at least 30 l for material no greater than 60 mm, or 70 l for
material greater than 60 mm.
6.2.2 Number of final samples
Except for quantity determination and microbiological testing, and unless otherwise agreed with the
parties concerned, at least four representative final samples shall be taken and distributed as follows:
a) one portion for the supplier;
b) one portion for the buyer (receiver or enforcement officer);
c) one portion for the testing laboratory;
d) one portion for an independent tester if a dispute on analysis arises.
6.3 Sampling
6.3.1 Number of sampling points
Take an incremental sample from each sampling point. The number of sampling points (n ) is calculated
sp
using Formula (1), rounded up to the nearest whole number:
05,
nV= 0,5 (1)
( )
sp
where
V is the nominal quantity of the sampled portion in cubic metres:
— with a minimum n = 12;
sp
— and a maximum n = 30.
sp
6.3.2 Distribution of sampling points
The sampling points shall be distributed throughout the sampled portion as follows:
a) Bulk material:
Visually divide the sampled portion into the same number of equal portions as the number of
sampling points. For larger heaps (> 20 m or height > 2 m), it is recommended to use a wheel loader
to make cuts evenly spread over the heap to get into the centre of the heap.
b) Packaged material:
Each sampling point shall be in a different randomly selected package.
Where the quantity of a package is to be determined the sample shall enable the bulk density and
quantity of each individually sampled package to be determined.
More sampling points shall be used if the package content is so small that the required incremental
sample size cannot be obtained.
6.3.3 Volume of samples
From each sampling point incremental samples of sufficient volume (at least 0,5 l) shall be taken to
ensure the final sample size (see Annex A).
6.3.4 Incremental samples
If the variability of the material is being assessed, the incremental samples shall be treated as separate
final samples. Each of the incremental samples shall be of the final sample size (see 6.3.3 and Annex A).
The incremental samples shall be taken carefully so as to preserve the characteristics of the material for
the parameter for which it is to be tested (subject to the need to bring the material to a flowable state and
to facilitate sub-sampling and measurement) as follows:
a) All material:
Care shall be taken not to degrade the material as this could result in a higher bulk density and a
lower volume and higher than expected nutrient and salt levels.
b) Reconstitution and preparation of material for bulk density determination:
All material (except bulk material that is already in a loose state) shall be reconstituted following the
manufacturer’s guidance prior to sampling or determination of quantity measurement. In the case of
dried and compressed blocked material (such as coir) water shall be added as prescribed and the
material allowed to swell as directed before sampling and measureme
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