oSIST prEN 17729:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies references to methods to be used for the determination of specific parameters in soil improvers, but does not contain the methods themselves. The specific parameters in this document are:; — dry matter content;; — quantity;; — total copper and zinc content;; — water soluble chloride content;; — organic and total nitrogen content;; — total P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) and K2O (potassium oxide) content.; This document is applicable to the fertilizing product blends where a blend is a mix of two or more fertilizing products belonging to the categories of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors and plant biostimulants, and where soil improvers and/or growing media are the components with the highest percentage in the blend by mass or volume, or in the case of products in liquid form by dry mass. If the soil improvers and/or growing media are not the components with the highest percentage in the blend, the European Standard relevant to the component with the highest percentage in the blend applies. In case a blend is composed of fertilizing products mixed in equal quantities, the user of the standard decides which standard to apply.; NOTE A soil improver consists of a single bulky (volume-building) component or a mix of bulky (volume-building) components (for example peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, expanded perlite).

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 01-Feb-2026
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: KAT - Soil quality
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 06-Nov-2025
• Due Date: 26-Mar-2026
• Completion Date: 20-Feb-2026
• Directive: Not Harmonized2003/2003 - Regulation (EC) N° 2003/2003 of the European Parlament and of the council of 13 October 2003 relating to fertilisers
• Directive:

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  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 - COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of XXX on a standardisation request to the European Committee for Standardisation, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute in support of the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 laying down ecodesign requirements for external power supplies, wireless chargers, wireless charging pads, battery chargers for portable batteries of general use and USB Type-C cables, pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1782
• Ref Project: FprEN 17729 - Soil improvers - Methods for the determination of dry matter content, quantity, total copper and zinc content, water soluble chloride content, organic and total nitrogen content, total P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide) and K2O (potassium oxide) content

• Revises: SIST-TS CEN/TS 17729:2022 - Soil improvers - Determination of specific parameters
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2026

Overview

oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is a draft European Standard developed by CEN for the determination of key parameters in soil improvers and growing media. The standard specifies references to standardized test methods for determining dry matter content, quantity, total copper and zinc content, water soluble chloride content, organic and total nitrogen content, as well as total phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) and potassium oxide (K₂O) content in soil improvers and their blends. Though it does not detail the methods themselves, it ensures consistency by requiring the use of recognized reference methods across the soil amendment sector.

oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is crucial for market access and compliance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for fertilizing products, supporting quality control, regulatory conformity, and product optimization within the European Union.

Key Topics

• Parameters Covered:

  • Dry matter content
  • Quantity (volume or mass)
  • Total copper and zinc content
  • Water soluble chloride content
  • Organic and total nitrogen content
  • Total P₂O₅ (phosphorus pentoxide) and K₂O (potassium oxide) content

• Scope of Applicability:

  • Fertilizing product blends, especially those where soil improvers and/or growing media are the main components by mass or volume
  • Applies when soil improvers or growing media constitute the highest percentage within a blend
  • For blends of equal proportions, the choice of applicable standard is left to the user

• Standardization Objectives:

  • Reference to harmonized methods for sampling, sample preparation, and chemical testing
  • Alignment with EU regulatory requirements for fertilizing products

• Blending Considerations:

  • Covers mixes of fertilizers, liming material, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, and plant biostimulants
  • Emphasis on products where bulk materials (e.g., peat, wood fibres, compost) are dominant

Applications

The standardized determination of soil improver parameters has broad practical value across the agricultural, horticultural, and environmental sectors:

• Product Quality Assurance: Enables manufacturers and suppliers to verify that soil improvers and growing media meet declared specifications, supporting claims for nutrient content and trace element concentrations.

• Regulatory Compliance: Assists stakeholders in meeting the essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, facilitating market access for soil amendments within the EU.

• Trade and Procurement: Ensures that soil improvers and blends are accurately characterized, facilitating transparent trade, procurement, and acceptance across borders.

• Agronomic Optimization: Enables professionals to optimize fertilizer blends and soil amendments for nutrient management, crop yield, and environmental sustainability.

• Testing and Certification: Testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies use referenced methods to provide reliable, reproducible analyses for certification schemes.

Related Standards

oSIST prEN 17729:2026 depends on and must be used alongside several related European Standards and draft standards, including:

• EN 12579:2024: Sampling of soil improvers and growing media
• prEN 13040-1:2025: Sample preparation and determination of dry matter content
• EN 12580:2022 / EN 15238:2022: Determination of quantity (by volume or mass, depending on particle size)
• prEN 13654-1:2025 / prEN 13654-2:2025: Determination of nitrogen by Modified Kjeldahl and Dumas methods
• prEN 18252:2025: Determination of water soluble chloride content
• prEN 18259:2025: Determination of aqua regia soluble elements (for copper, zinc, P₂O₅, and K₂O)
• prEN 17732:2025: Terminology for soil improvers and growing media

oSIST prEN 17729:2026 will supersede CEN/TS 17729:2022.

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By following oSIST prEN 17729:2026, organizations ensure a harmonized approach to the chemical and physical analysis of soil improvers, supporting EU fertilizer regulations and building confidence in the quality and safety of soil improvement products across European and international markets.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Metode za določanje suhe snovi, količine,
bakra, cinka, klorida, dušika, P2O5 in K2O
Soil improvers - Methods for the determination of the dry matter, quantity, copper, zinc,
chloride, nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O content
Bodenverbesserungsmittel - Bestimmung spezifischer Parameter
Amendements du sol - Vue d'ensemble des méthodes pour la détermination de la
matière sèche, de la quantité, du cuivre, du zinc, des chlorures, de l'azote, et de la
teneure en P2O5 et K2O
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 17729
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 17729
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2025
ICS Will supersede CEN/TS 17729:2022
English Version
Soil improvers - Methods for the determination of the dry
matter, quantity, copper, zinc, chloride, nitrogen, P2O5 and
K2O content
Amendements du sol - Vue d'ensemble des méthodes Bodenverbesserungsmittel - Bestimmung spezifischer
pour la détermination de la matière sèche, de la Parameter
quantité, du cuivre, du zinc, des chlorures, de l'azote, et
de la teneure en P2O5 et K2O
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 17729:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 17729:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Sampling and sample preparation . 6
4.1 Sampling . 6
4.2 Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests . 6
5 Determination . 6
5.1 Determination of the dry matter content . 6
5.2 Determination of the nitrogen content . 6
5.2.1 Modified Kjeldahl method . 6
5.2.2 Dumas method . 6
5.3 Determination of the aqua regia soluble P O and K O content . 6
2 5 2
5.4 Determination of the copper and zinc content . 6
5.5 Determination of quantity . 7
5.5.1 Determination of quantity for materials up a particle size up to 60 mm . 7
5.5.2 Determination of quantity (indicated by volume or mass) for materials up a particle
size greater than 60 mm . 7
5.6 Determination of the chloride content . 7
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship of this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 making available on the market of EU
fertilising products aimed to be covered . 8
Bibliography . 9

prEN 17729:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 17729:2025) 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 CEN/TS 17729:2022.
This document includes the following significant technical changes with respect to CEN/TS 17729:2022:
— The title has been revised;
— The quantity requirements have been added to the Introduction;
— An applicability statement has been included in the Scope;
— Clause 2, Normative references, has been updated;
— Annex ZA has been added.
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.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
prEN 17729:2025 (E)
Introduction
Different product functions warrant different product safety, quality and quantity requirements adapted
to their different intended uses. EU fertilizing products have therefore been divided into different product
function categories (PFCs), which are subject to specific safety, quality and quantity requirements, as
specified in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 [1].
Soil improvers have been classified as PFC 3. The specific safety, quality and quantity requirements in
relation to specific parameters are specified in this document, as well as normative references of the test
methods to be used to assess the compliance with the related requirement.
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