Draft International Standard to Determine Bioavailability of Trace Elements to Plants Published for Public Comment

The ISO Committee Draft "Soil Quality — Plant based-biotest to assess the environmental bioavailability of trace elements to plants" has been published for public comment.

The date for receipt of comments is 11 August 2011. Please note that there is a prescribed format for comments.

ISO DIS 16198
Soil Quality — Plant based-biotest to assess the environmental bioavailability of trace elements to plants.

1 Scope (Part of)

“This biotest enables to estimate the environmental bioavailability of trace elements to plants as concentration in shoots and roots or a net flux to the whole plants. The biotest procedure includes two successive steps: (i) pre-growth of the plants in hydroponics and (ii) growth of the plants in contact with soil samples. The concentrations in shoots and roots as well as the net flux of trace elements to the plants are determined at the end of the second step of the biotest procedure.”

[Three plant species are mentioned as suitable but other may be used:  – cabbage, tall fescue and tomato.

Validated for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni & Zn and possibly other elements]

“The application of this biotest to soils and soil materials includes soils amended with composts, sludges, wastewaters and other (waste) material before or after field sampling.”

If anyone would like a copy please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Joanna McNamara secretary of BSI Committee EH4 Soil Quality at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .