COMPOST MANURE TESTING METHODS

  • Moisture/Dry Matter

    105-110 degrees Celsius for 16 hours Method 2.0 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” Method 2.2 

  • Total Nitrogen

    Combustion by Elementar Vario Max CN Method 3.3 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” and TMECC method 4.02 (adapted from AOAC 990.03)

  • Total Carbon

    Combustion by Elementar Vario Max CN Method 4.01 from the “Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost” (TMECC) 

  • Ammonium-N

    KCL Extraction determined on FIA Lab flow injection autoanalyzer. Method 4.3 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” (Adapted from USEPA 350.1) 

  • Nitrate-N

    KCL Extraction determined on FIA Lab flow injection autoanalyzer. (Adapted from USEPA 353.2) 

  • Mineral Digestion

    Nitric acid digestion in CEM Mars Microwave system. Method 5.3 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” and TMECC 4.12 (Adapted from EPA 3051) use for determination of P,K,Ca,Mg,Na,B,Co,Cu,Zn,Mo,Mn,Fe,S,Al 

  • Mineral Determination

    The digested samples are analyzed on Thermal 6500 Dou ICP. Method 6.3 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” and TMECC 4.14

  • pH

    Liquid samples are done as-is. Solid samples are analyzed one part sample to 2 parts water. Method 7 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” 

  • Conductivity (EC)

    Liquid samples are done as-is. Solid samples are analyzed one part sample to 2 parts water. Method 8 from “Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis” 

  • Water Extractable Phosphorus

    100:1 solution:solids ratio, sample is shaken for one hour at 150 rpm. Sample is then filtered and analyzed on ICP (Reference Wolf, Ann, Peter Kleinman, Andrew Sharpley et.al. Soil Sci.Soc.Am.J

    66:2009-2015 

  • Organic Matter/Ash

    Samples muffled in an ashing oven at 550 degrees Celsius for 2 hours. Method 5.07 from the TMECC (EPA method 160.4) 

  • Maturity

    Solvita Maturity Test (Method 5.08E from “Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost”)

  • Inert Materials

    Method 3.08 from “Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost”

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