ASTM D5539-94(2003)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D 5539 – 94 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Specification for
Seed Starter Mix
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5539; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2.2 Adequate seed (seedling) to starter media contact to
permit water to flow to the seed and seedling root. This
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics,
function also relates to the media having a sufficient amount of
physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the desig-
water retention to maintain the amount of moisture needed for
nation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes.
plant use,
This would consist of the duration of germination ending after
3.2.3 Asurface that does not inhibit emergence. This relates
the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
to the media’s ability to resist surface crusting, and
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial
3.2.4 A bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation
mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial
and proliferation.
germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.
3.3 Material—While one material may be able to provide
2. Referenced Documents
all of the needs of a seed (seedling), a mixture of varying
percentage of at least two of these materials has been found in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
practice to yield more consistent results over a wide range of
C 330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Struc-
management practices. Therefore, seed starters are generally
tural Concrete
mixtures of materials. The following is a list of materials that
C 331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Con-
have been used as or in seed starter mixes:
crete Masonry Units
3.3.1 Vermiculite—This is a natural mineral that has been
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
treated with heat until it becomes porous. This material has the
Fluids
ability to hold a significant amount of water and still allow for
D 2607 Classification of Peats, Mosses, Humus, and Re-
excellent drainage. However, it does not provide for good
lated Products
seed-media contact.
D 4531 Test Methods for Bulk Density of Peat and Peat
3.3.2 Sphagnum Peat Moss—This is a natural accumulation
Products
of plant material decayed and decaying under anaerobic
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
conditions, and meeting the specifications outlined in Classi-
poses
fication D 2607. Industry-wide, this seems to be the one
3. Material and Manufacture
material that has no substitute.
3.3.3 Perlite—This is a volcanic ash that looks like small
3.1 The success of a seed starter mix is measured in its
beads of plastic. Similar to vermiculite, it holds less water but
ability to provide a germinating seed with certain basic needs,
provides more seed-media contact.
that are outlined as follows.Avariety of materials, both natural
3.3.4 CoarseSand—Thisismineralsoilmaterialthatpasses
and artificial, can be employed to provide the characteristics
through a No. 10 sieve but is retained on a No. 40 sieve. It
that will fill the need.
provides good drainage and maintains friability.
3.2 Function—A seed starter media provides a seed (seed-
3.3.5 Expanded Shale, Clay, or Slate— These are engi-
ling) with four basic needs:
neered materials that are structural grade, inert, porous light-
3.2.1 Aeration to permit an exchange of gases between the
weight aggregates with properties meeting the requirements of
emerging roots and the surrounding medium,
Specification C 330 and C 331. Because of their particle
strength these aggregates do not consolidate after initial
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil
compaction and are thus free draining.
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a
3.3.6 Peat Humus and Other Peat Products— This material
Medium for Plant Growth.
Current edition approved April 15, 1994. Published June 1994.
is more highly decomposed than the sphagnum variety. It
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
meets the specifications outlined in Classification D 2607.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
4 While it may be used in the mixture, it tends to compact easily.
Discontinued; see 1992 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 04.08.
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D 5539 – 94 (2003)
3.3.7 Composted Organic Materials—This material has de- 3.7 Nutrients—Since seeds contain their own food suppl
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