DIN EN ISO 11269-2:2013-05

This part of ISO 11269 describes a method to assess the quality of an unknown soil and the soil habitat function by determining the emergence and early growth response of at least two terrestrial plant species compared to reference or standard control soils. The method is applicable to soils of unknown quality, for example, from contaminated sites, amended (improved) soils or soils after remediation. This standard refers closely to ISO 22030 and is based on: a) results from the German research project "Entwicklung eines innovativen und technischen Instrumentariums zur Optimierung der ökotoxikologischen Bewertung von Böden im Hinblick auf Sanierungsziele und Schutzerfordernisse"; b) discussions within the joint project "Ecotoxicological Test Batteries" forming part of the BMBF Joint Research Group "Processes for the Bioremediation of Soil"; c) results from the BMBF Joint Research Group ERNTE "Erprobung und Vorbereitung einer praktischen Nutzung ökotoxikologischer Testsysteme"; d) ring-test results of "Ecotoxicological Characterisation of Waste - Results and Experiences from an International Ring Test". Plant growth can be influenced strongly by soil properties such as texture, pH or levels of nutrients. When testing natural soils either reference soils (uncontaminated soils with the same properties as the test soil) or standard soils are used as mixing and control substrate. In the latter case, variations in plant growth can result from either soil contaminants or differences in soil properties like nutrients and texture. Therefore, results from soil testing can less easily be interpreted than results from testing of chemicals. The committee responsible for this standard is NA 119-01-02-04 UA "Biologische Verfahren" ("Biological Methods") at DIN.