SIST EN 16087-1:2020

Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological activity - Part 1: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR)

This document describes a method to determine the aerobic biological activity of growing media and soil improvers or constituents thereof by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The oxygen uptake rate is an indicator of the extent to which biodegradable organic matter is being broken down within a specified time period. The method is not suitable for material with a content of particle sizes > 10 mm exceeding 20 %.

Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen Aktivität - Teil 1: Sauerstoffaufnahme (OUR)

Dieses Dokument beschreibt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen Aktivität von Kultursubstraten und Bodenverbesserungsmitteln oder von deren Bestandteilen durch die Messung der Sauerstoffaufnahmerate (OUR, en: oxygen uptake rate). Die Sauerstoffaufnahmerate ist ein Indikator für das Ausmaß, in dem biologisch abbaubare organische Substanz innerhalb einer festgelegten Zeitdauer abgebaut wird. Das Verfahren ist nicht für Material geeignet, dessen Gehalt an Korngrößen > 10 mm 20 % überschreitet.

Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de l'activité biologique aérobie - Partie 1 : Cinétique d'absorption de l'oxygène (OUR)

Le présent document décrit une méthode de détermination de l’activité biologique aérobie des supports de culture et des amendements du sol ou de leurs constituants par mesurage de la cinétique d’absorption de l’oxygène (OUR). La cinétique d’absorption de l’oxygène est un indicateur de l’importance de la dégradation de la matière organique biodégradable durant un intervalle de temps spécifié. La méthode ne convient pas à un matériau contenant plus de 20 % de particules d’une granulométrie > 10 mm.

Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določevanje aerobne biološke aktivnosti - 1. del: Stopnja porabe kisika

Ta evropski standard opisuje metodo za določevanje aerobne biološke aktivnosti izboljševalcev tal in rastnih substratov ali njihovih sestavin z merjenjem stopnje porabe kisika (OUR). Stopnja porabe kisika je kazalnik obsega razgradnje biološko razgradljive organske snovi v določenem časovnem obdobju. Metoda ni ustrezna za material, ki vsebuje več kot 20 % delcev > 10 mm.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 04-Dec-2018
• Publication Date: 03-Feb-2020
• ICS: 65.080 - Fertilizers
• Technical Committee: KAT - Soil quality
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 17-Jan-2020
• Due Date: 23-Mar-2020
• Completion Date: 04-Feb-2020
• Ref Project: EN 16087-1:2020 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological activity - Part 1: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR)

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 16087-1:2012 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological activity - Part 1: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2020
• Revised: oSIST prEN 16087-1:2025 - Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part 1: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2025

Overview

EN 16087-1:2020 (CEN) specifies a laboratory method to determine the aerobic biological activity of soil improvers and growing media by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). OUR is used as an indicator of the rate at which biodegradable organic matter is decomposed under defined aerobic conditions. The method is intended for bulk samples and is not suitable for materials with more than 20% by mass of particles larger than 10 mm.

Key topics and requirements

• Test principle: Sample is suspended in water in a sealed reaction vessel; oxygen consumption is inferred from the pressure drop in the headspace while CO2 is removed by an alkaline absorbent.
• Measured parameter: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR) over a standard test period (typically up to seven days).
• Apparatus & conditions:
  • Temperature-controlled environment at (30 ± 2) °C.
  • Reaction vessels: 1 000–2 500 ml with gas-tight connections to a pressure transducer.
  • Pressure transducer operating range 0–20 kPa, accuracy ±0.1 kPa, recording 2–4 times per hour.
  • Mixing by shaking table (~120 rpm) or magnetic stirrer.
  • CO2 absorbent (e.g., NaOH, KOH, soda lime) in a dedicated unit.
  • Balance to EN 45501 class II tolerances.
• Sample preparation & limits:
  • Break up transport-induced lumps, sieve at 10 mm, record % >10 mm; test not applicable if >20% by mass.
  • Moist samples stored at (5 ± 3) °C (max 2 weeks).
  • Sample mass calculated to provide an initial target of 2 g organic matter per litre of suspension; adjustments allowed if respiration is too low or high.
• Reagents & preconditioning:
  • Use specified nutrient solutions, pH buffer, and a nitrification inhibitor (N‑allylthiourea) to suppress nitrification-driven O2 consumption.
  • Target suspension pH 6.5–7.5.
• Data handling:
  • Pressure data over the test period are used to calculate OUR; test usually runs seven days or ends earlier if pressure changes exceed limits.

Applications and users

EN 16087-1:2020 is used for:

• Quality control and batch testing of growing media, composts and soil improvers.
• Product development and R&D to compare biodegradability and maturation.
• Compliance testing for manufacturers, independent testing laboratories, certification bodies and regulators assessing aerobic stability or biological activity.
• Selecting compost or substrate blends for horticulture, landscaping and agriculture where aerobic decomposition rates matter.

Related standards

• EN 13039 - Determination of organic matter content and ash (used to calculate sample mass)
• EN 13040 - Sample preparation, dry matter and moisture determination
• EN 45501 - Metrological requirements for balances
• EN ISO 3696 - Laboratory water quality

EN 16087-1:2020 provides a repeatable, standardized OUR test for assessing aerobic biodegradation in growing media - a practical tool for manufacturers, labs and regulators focused on substrate quality and stability.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 16087-1:2012
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določevanje aerobne biološke aktivnosti - 1.
del: Stopnja porabe kisika
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological activity - Part
1: Oxygen uptake rate (OUR)
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen
Aktivität - Teil 1: Sauerstoffaufnahme (OUR)
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de l'activité biologique
aérobie - Partie 1 : Cinétique d'absorption de l'oxygène (OUR)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16087-1:2020
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 16087-1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
January 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.080 Supersedes EN 16087-1:2011
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the
aerobic biological activity - Part 1: Oxygen uptake rate
(OUR)
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Substrate -
Détermination de l'activité biologique aérobie - Partie Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen Aktivität - Teil
1 : Cinétique d'absorption de l'oxygène (OUR) 1: Sauerstoffaufnahme (OUR)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 October 2019.

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, Turkey 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
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16087-1:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European Foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and Definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
5 Apparatus . 4
5.1 Testing facility . 4
5.2 Pressure transducer. 4
5.3 CO -absorbent containing unit . 5
5.4 Reaction vessel . 5
5.5 Mixing device . 5
5.6 Balance . 5
5.7 pH meter . 5
5.8 Dispenser . 5
5.9 Glassware . 5
5.10 Sieve . 5
6 Reagents . 5
6.1 Water of class 3 . 5
6.2 pH buffer. 5
6.3 Macronutrient solution . 5
6.4 Micronutrient solution . 5
6.5 Complete nutrient solution . 6
6.6 Nitrification inhibitor . 6
6.7 CO -absorbent . 6
6.8 NaOH (0,5 mol/l) . 6
6.9 HCI (0,5 mol/l). 6
7 Procedure. 6
7.1 Sample preparation . 6
7.2 Determination of moisture content and organic matter content . 6
7.3 Starting the procedure . 6
7.4 Respiration measurement . 7
8 Calculations . 8
8.1 Theoretical background . 8
8.2 Calculations . 8
9 Test report . 9
Annex A (informative) Validation . 10
Annex B (informative) Specific information on the OUR-test . 11
Bibliography . 13

European Foreword
This document (EN 16087-1:2020) 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 July 2020, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by July 2020.
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 16087-1:2011.
The main changes compared with the previous edition are as follows:
 For the balance (5.6) requirements are added;
 Clarification of sample preparation (7.1) is added;
 Formula 3 and 5 are corrected;
 The figures in Annex B have been updated;
 The Bibliography has been corrected.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS — Care should be taken when handling substances of caustic nature or samples
that may contain sharps or is of a dusty nature.
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, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document describes a method to determine the aerobic biological activity of growing media and soil
improvers or constituents thereof by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The oxygen uptake rate
is an indicator of the extent to which biodegradable organic matter is being broken down within a
specified time period. The method is not suitable for material with a content of particle sizes > 10 mm
exceeding 20 %.
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.
EN 13039, Soil improvers and growing media – Determination of organic matter content and ash
EN 13040, Soil improvers and growing media – Sample preparation for chemical and physical tests,
determination of dry matter content, mois
...