oSIST prEN 17729:2026
(Main)Soil improvers - Methods for the determination of the dry matter, quantity, copper, zinc, chloride, nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O content
- 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
- 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
- Mandate
- M/XXX - M/XXX
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is the Slovenian adoption of the draft European Standard prEN 17729 from CEN. It gives references to the test methods used to determine dry matter, quantity, copper, zinc, chloride, nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O in soil improvers.
This standard is for laboratories, manufacturers, and conformity assessment teams that need a common way to check these parameters for soil improvers and certain fertilizing product blends. It does not set out the test methods itself - it points users to the companion standards to apply.
What does oSIST prEN 17729:2026 specify?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 specifies which referenced methods are used to determine selected parameters in solid soil improvers and in certain fertilizing product blends. The document is an overview of methods, not a self-contained test method standard.
It is organized into scope, normative references, terms and definitions, sampling and sample preparation, determination, and an informative Annex ZA on the link to EU law.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| ZA | Relationship between this European Standard and Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 for EU fertilising products |
In practice, the scope matters because it tells the reader when this standard applies and when another European Standard should be used instead. If soil improvers or growing media are not the highest-percentage components in a blend, the standard for the main component applies. If the blend contains equal quantities of fertilizing products, the user decides which standard to apply.
What are the key requirements of oSIST prEN 17729:2026?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 requires users to follow specific companion standards for sampling, sample preparation, and each determination. The main point is to use the right method standard for the parameter being reported.
Sampling and sample preparation
- Clause 4.1 requires sampling for quality and quantity control to be carried out according to EN 12579:2024. This gives a common sampling basis, which matters because poor sampling makes later results unreliable.
- Clause 4.2 requires sample preparation for chemical and physical tests according to prEN 13040-1:2025, Clauses 6 to 10. This keeps laboratory samples comparable before testing starts.
Determination of parameters
- Clause 5.1 requires dry matter content to be determined according to prEN 13040-1:2025, Clause 11. This is the route to use when dry matter is the parameter of interest.
- Clause 5.2 gives two nitrogen routes: the modified Kjeldahl method in prEN 13654-1:2025, Clause 9 and the Dumas method in prEN 13654-2:2025, Clause 9. Users choose the method that fits their testing needs and report the result accordingly.
- Clause 5.3 requires aqua regia soluble P2O5 and K2O to be determined according to prEN 18259:2025, Clause 9. This links nutrient reporting to one specified analytical route.
- Clause 5.4 requires copper and zinc content to be determined according to prEN 18259:2025, Clause 9. That means the same companion standard is used for these element determinations.
- Clause 5.5 splits quantity determination by particle size: up to 60 mm uses EN 12580:2022, Clause 8, while greater than 60 mm uses EN 15238:2022, Clauses 8 to 10. This matters because the measuring approach depends on the material size.
- Clause 5.6 requires chloride content to be determined according to prEN 18252:2025, Clause 8. Users need this when chloride is part of product control or compliance checking.
What terms does oSIST prEN 17729:2026 define?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 applies the terms and definitions of prEN 17732:2025. The document also uses these key terms and abbreviations:
- Soil improvers - a single bulky component or a mix of bulky components, such as peat, wood fibres, coconut coir, compost, or expanded perlite.
- Fertilizing product blends - mixtures of two or more fertilizing products from the categories named in the scope.
- PFC 3 - the product function category for soil improvers in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
- Dry matter content - the amount measured by the dry matter method in Clause 5.1.
- Quantity - the amount determined by mass or volume, depending on the material and particle size.
- P2O5 - phosphorus pentoxide, used here for aqua regia soluble content reporting.
- K2O - potassium oxide, used here for aqua regia soluble content reporting.
Who uses oSIST prEN 17729:2026?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is used by testing laboratories, manufacturers of soil improvers, producers of growing media, and organizations checking EU fertilising products. It is also relevant to quality managers and conformity assessment bodies that need repeatable methods for sampling, sample preparation, and parameter determination. The standard is especially relevant where product control includes dry matter, nutrients, trace metals, chloride, or quantity.
What changed in oSIST prEN 17729:2026 from the previous edition?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 supersedes CEN/TS 17729:2022. The changes stated in the document are:
- the title has been revised
- quantity requirements were added to the Introduction
- an applicability statement was added to the Scope
- Clause 2 on normative references was updated
- Annex ZA was added
Which standards are used with oSIST prEN 17729:2026?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 depends on these companion standards:
- prEN 17732:2025 - terminology for soil improvers and growing media
- EN 12579:2024 - sampling
- EN 12580:2022 - determination of quantity for materials up to 60 mm particle size
- prEN 13040-1:2025 - sample preparation and dry matter determination
- prEN 13654-1:2025 - nitrogen by modified Kjeldahl method
- prEN 13654-2:2025 - nitrogen by Dumas method
- EN 15238:2022 - quantity for materials greater than 60 mm particle size
- prEN 18252:2025 - chloride content
- prEN 18259:2025 - aqua regia soluble elements, including the P2O5, K2O, copper, and zinc determinations used here
What does the oSIST prEN 17729:2026 document contain?
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 contains references to the methods to use, not the analytical procedures themselves. It gives the scope, the applicable terminology, the sampling and sample-preparation route, and the method references for each parameter.
It also contains the Annex ZA correspondence table linking clauses in this standard to essential requirements in Regulation (EU) 2019/1009. That table is used for conformity work on EU fertilising products covered by the standard.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 01-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Soil improvers - Methods for the determination of the dry matter, quantity, copper, zinc, chloride, nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O content". This standard covers: 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).
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).
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST-TS CEN/TS 17729:2022. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2003/2003, 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2, M/XXX. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
oSIST prEN 17729:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
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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