Composts and Soil Conditioners

Application: Composts and Soil Conditioners

Landscape package 8 (LP 8) is suitable as a basis for assessing the quality of composts and soil conditioners intended for agriculture, horticulture or general landscaping. Ever increasing amounts of domestic and green waste are being composted and this analytical and advisory package could be used by producers to assist in quality control and marketing, or by end users.

The assessment is based on recognised standards and limits such as the DETR document: Product Guide for Compost Specifiers.

The package is split into 3 sets of tests depending on requirements. The basic analysis covers nutrient content and general physical properties. Additional optional analysis for potentially toxic elements and microbial contaminants is also available.

Landscape Package 8 Analyses

Basic Package

Visual Description
pH Value
Electrical Conductivity (Salinity)
Water Soluble Nutrients

(NO₃-N, NH₄-N, PO₄-P, K, Mg)

Total Nutrient Content (N, P, K, Mg)
Organic Carbon
Organic Matter Content (Loss On Ignition)
Moisture/Dry Matter Content
Particle Size Distribution
Physical Contaminant Content
Bulk Density
[Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio]
[Nutrient Loading Rate]

Potentially Toxic Elements Option

Total Arsenic
Total Cadmium
Total Chromium
Total Copper
Total Lead
Total Mercury
Total Nickel
Total Selenium
Total Zinc
[Potentially Toxic Element Loading Rate]

Microbial Contaminants Option

E.coli
Salmonella

Note: Parameters in brackets [] are calculated from other determinations.

Other Potentially Toxic Elements such as boron, molybdenum, fluorine, manganese etc., available on request

The cost of LP 8 depends on the number of samples submitted at the same time and how quickly the results are required. See attached explanatory notes for details of the different services available.

Work is undertaken subject to our standard conditions of contract (copies available on request).