SIST EN 13037:2012

Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH

This European Standard specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of pH in a suspension of soil improvers or growing media.
This method is not applicable to liming materials and preformed materials such as mineral wool slabs and foam slabs.
NOTE   The requirements of the standard may differ from the national legal requirements for the declaration of the products concerned.

Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung des pH-Wertes

Diese Europäische Norm legt ein gerätegestütztes Verfahren zur routinemäßigen Bestimmung des pH-Wertes in einer Suspension aus Bodenverbesserungsmitteln oder Kultursubstraten fest. Dieses Verfahren gilt nicht für Calcium-/Magnesium-Bodenverbesserungsmittel und vorgeformte Materialien wie Mineralwollplatten und Schaumplatten. ANMERKUNG Die Anforderungen der Norm können von den nationalen gesetzlichen Vorgaben bezüglich der Deklaration der erwähnten Produkte abweichen.

Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination du pH

La présente Norme européenne spécifie une méthode instrumentale de détermination de routine du pH dans une
suspension d'amendements organiques et de supports de culture.
La présente méthode n’est pas applicable aux amendements calciques et/ou magnésiens basiques, ni aux
matériaux préformés tels que les blocs de laine minérale et de mousse.
NOTE Les exigences de la norme peuvent diverger par rapport aux législations nationales en ce qui concerne la
déclaration des produits concernés.

Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določevanje pH

Ta evropski standard določa instrumentalno metodo za rutinsko določevanje pH v suspenziji izboljševalcev tal ali rastnih substratov.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 28-Feb-2010
• Publication Date: 10-Jan-2012
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: KAT - Soil quality
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 04-Jan-2012
• Due Date: 10-Mar-2012
• Completion Date: 11-Jan-2012
• Directive: TP136 - Uredba o predelavi biološko razgradljivih odpadkov in uporabi komposta ali digestata
• Ref Project: EN 13037:2011 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 13037:2001 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2012
• Revised: oSIST prEN 13037:2025 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2025

Overview

SIST EN 13037:2012 is a European standard developed by CEN that specifies an instrumental method for the routine determination of pH in suspensions of soil improvers and growing media. This standard provides a consistent and reliable laboratory procedure to measure pH, a critical parameter reflecting the acidity or alkalinity of soil amendments and substrates used in agriculture and horticulture. The method excludes liming materials and preformed products such as mineral wool and foam slabs.

The standard ensures accurate pH measurement through detailed sample preparation, extraction, and pH-meter calibration protocols. While this method supports product quality control and regulatory compliance across Europe, it may vary from national legal requirements regarding product declarations.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application
  The method applies specifically to soil improvers and growing media but excludes liming materials and synthetic preformed materials. It is essential for routine quality assessment in product manufacturing and research.

• Sample Preparation
  Samples must be prepared by sieving (20 mm or 40 mm) and precisely weighed to standard volumes before extraction in water at controlled temperature (22 ± 3 °C). This process ensures uniform suspension for measurement.

• Measurement Principle
  pH is determined by measuring the suspension with a calibrated pH meter, using electrodes suitable for typical soil pH ranges. Equilibration times and temperature controls are rigorously defined to enhance accuracy.

• Reagents and Calibration Buffers
  The method requires high-purity reagents and buffer solutions at pH 4.00, 7.00, and 9.22 for meter calibration, ensuring results are traceable to internationally recognized pH standards.

• Precision and Reproducibility
  The standard includes precision data from interlaboratory trials demonstrating excellent repeatability and reproducibility, essential for ensuring consistent pH measurements across different laboratories.

• Test Reporting
  Results are reported to one decimal place in pH units and must include sample identification, test conditions, any deviations from the method, and compacted bulk density of the sample.

Applications

SIST EN 13037:2012 is widely applied in:

• Quality Control for Soil Improvers
  Ensures consistent chemical properties of organic and inorganic soil amendments by monitoring pH, which affects nutrient availability and microbial activity.

• Substrate Testing in Horticulture
  Verifies pH levels in growing media to optimize plant growth conditions, supporting nursery and greenhouse production standards.

• Research and Development
  Facilitates comparative studies and product formulation improvements by providing standard test methods recognized across the European Union.

• Regulatory Compliance
  Assists manufacturers and testing labs in meeting European norms, supporting product harmonization and trade within CEN member countries.

Related Standards

For comprehensive testing of soil improvers and growing media, EN 13037 integrates with several related standards:

• EN 13040:2007 – Details sample preparation, determination of dry matter content, moisture, and laboratory compacted bulk density, essential preliminary steps prior to pH testing.

• EN ISO 3696 – Specifies requirements for water purity used in analytical procedures, ensuring reagent quality.

• ISO 1770 – Covers requirements for thermometers used during testing to maintain strict temperature control.

• ISO 5725 – Provides principles on accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of measurement methods, underlying the validation of EN 13037 procedures.

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Keywords: EN 13037, soil improvers, growing media, pH determination, CEN standard, pH measurement method, soil pH testing, soil amendment quality, horticultural substrates, European Standard pH, instrumental pH testing, laboratory soil analysis.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung des pH-WertesAmendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination du pHSoil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH65.080GnojilaFertilizersICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 13037:2011SIST EN 13037:2012en,fr,de01-februar-2012SIST EN 13037:2012SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 13037:20011DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 13037
November 2011 ICS 65.080 Supersedes EN 13037:1999English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of pH
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination du pH
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung des pH-Wertes This European Standard was approved by CEN on 17 September 2011.
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, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 13037:2011: ESIST EN 13037:2012

Results of an interlaboratory trial to determine pH .7Bibliography .8 SIST EN 13037:2012
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