ISO 8157:2022

Overview

ISO 8157:2022 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that provides a comprehensive vocabulary for fertilizers, soil conditioners, and beneficial substances. This third edition, released in September 2022, defines crucial terms related to fertilizers, soil improvers, growing media, inhibitors, and plant biostimulants. It aims to standardize terminology across the agriculture and horticulture industries, promoting clear communication and consistent understanding worldwide.

The standard is developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 134, dedicated to fertilizers, soil amendments, and beneficial substances. It replaces the previous edition ISO 8157:2015, with updates reflecting recent developments such as the inclusion of terms related to plant biostimulants.

Key Topics

ISO 8157:2022 covers an extensive range of definitions segmented into several categories:

• General Terms

  • Fertilizer: A substance containing one or more essential nutrients designed to promote plant growth.
  • Nutrient Elements: Includes major (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), secondary (Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur), and trace (Boron, Manganese, Iron, Zinc, etc.) nutrients essential or beneficial for plant development.
  • Beneficial Substances: Substances or microorganisms other than nutrients that positively affect plants or soil ecosystems, such as plant biostimulants.

• Types of Fertilizers

  • Mineral Fertilizers: Fertilizers without organic matter except additives (e.g., calcium cyanamide, urea).
  • Organic Fertilizers: Materials containing carbon mainly of plant or animal origin applied to soil or plants.
  • Organo-Mineral Fertilizers: Products combining both organic and mineral nutrient sources.
  • Slow-Release and Controlled-Release Fertilizers: Products designed to extend nutrient availability over time through various mechanisms.
  • Coated Fertilizers: Fertilizers with granules coated with materials such as polymers or sulfur to modify nutrient release patterns.

• Soil Conditioners and Amendments

  • Amendments: Organic or mineral materials added to soil to improve physical, chemical, or biological properties.
  • Basic Mineral Amendments: Such as liming materials, primarily used to correct soil acidity and improve soil characteristics.
  • Synthetic Amendments: Chemically synthesized products to enhance soil quality without added nutrients.

• Other Relevant Terms

  • Inhibitors: Substances that affect nutrient transformation rates in fertilizers, including urease inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors.
  • Chelated Fertilizers: Fertilizers where nutrient elements are chemically bound to organic molecules (chelating agents) enhancing nutrient availability.
  • Foliar Fertilizers: Products designed for application directly on plant leaves to supply nutrients.

Applications

ISO 8157:2022 plays a vital role in supporting:

• Agricultural Production: By standardizing fertilizer terminology, it enhances the development, regulation, marketing, and application guidance of fertilizers and soil conditioners, helping optimize plant nutrition and crop yield.
• Regulatory Compliance: Facilitates harmonized definitions for regulatory authorities worldwide to ensure product labeling and quality control meet recognized standards.
• Research and Development: Provides a unified vocabulary to support research on fertilizer formulations, nutrient dynamics, and soil health interventions.
• Environmental Management: Encourages clear understanding of beneficial substances and inhibitors which help improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts such as nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Trade and Communication: Assists manufacturers, suppliers, agronomists, and farmers in clear and precise communication, helping to avoid misunderstandings in international trade and product use.

Related Standards

Professionals using ISO 8157:2022 may also refer to complementary standards for broader context and application:

• ISO 12096: Guidelines for sampling fertilizers.
• ISO 11260: Determination of soil pH.
• ISO 14688: Classification of soils for engineering purposes, also relevant to soil amendments.
• ISO 21663: Methods for determination of trace elements in fertilizers.
• FAO Fertilizer Manual: Provides practical guidance on fertilizer use and management.

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