prEN 17778

Scope

This document specifies a method for the determination of hexavalent chromium (chromium(VI)) in organic and organo-mineral fertilizers. The method specified is suitable to quantify the chromium(VI) content in organic and organo-mineral fertilizers down to 2 mg/kg dry matter. The results obtained from this method are strictly dependent on the extraction conditions. Results obtained by using other extraction procedures (extraction solution, pH of the extraction solution, extraction time, extraction temperature, etc.) are not comparable with the results produced by the procedure described in this document. This document is applicable to fertilizing products blends where a blend is a mix of at least two of the following components: fertilizers, liming materials, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, plant biostimulants and where organic matter is present in at least one of the products in the blend. In case a fertilizing product blend is composed only of inorganic products, the European Standard for inorganic fertilizers or liming materials applies. Variations in analytical methods for fertilizing product blends can lead to differing results as some components or matrix interactions can affect the outcome. Validation procedures have shown that developed standard methods are robust and reliable across diverse product compositions, but possible interferences and unexpected results when analysing fertilizing product blends are possible.