ASTM D5539-13
(Specification)Standard Specification for Seed Starter Mix
Standard Specification for Seed Starter Mix
ABSTRACT
This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling, of soil or soil-like material for seed starter mix. Starter mix may include natural soils and mixtures of natural or artificial materials for use in initial germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage. Seed starter mix shall be able to provide a germinating seed with basic needs such as aeration, water retention, surface crusting resistance, nutrients, soluble salts, optimum pH, sanitation, and bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation. Materials for seed starter mix may include vermiculite, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, coarse sand, expanded shale, clay, slate, peat humus, other peat products, composted organic materials, and other organic and inorganic materials.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the designation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes. This would consist of the duration of germination ending after the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. Alternate sieve designations in parentheses are as provided in Specification E11.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
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Designation: D5539 −13
StandardSpecification for
1
Seed Starter Mix
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5539; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
3
1. Scope* Products (Withdrawn 1990)
D4531 Test Methods for Bulk Density of Peat and Peat
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics,
Products
physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the desig-
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
nation of a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes.
Sieves
This would consist of the duration of germination ending after
the cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
3. Terminology
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms, refer to
mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial
Terminology D653.
germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.
4. Material and Manufacture
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
4.1 The success of a seed starter mix is measured in its
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
ability to provide a germinating seed with certain basic needs,
standard. Alternate sieve designations in parentheses are as
that are outlined as follows.Avariety of materials, both natural
provided in Specification E11.
and artificial, can be employed to provide the characteristics
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
that will fill the need.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 Function—A seed starter media provides a seed (seed-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ling) with four basic needs:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applicabil-
4.2.1 Aeration to permit an exchange of gases between the
ity of regulatory limitations prior to use.
emerging roots and the surrounding medium,
1.5 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
4.2.2 Adequate seed (seedling) to starter media contact to
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
permit water to flow to the seed and seedling root. This
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
function also relates to the media having a sufficient amount of
as requirements of the standard.
water retention to maintain the amount of moisture needed for
plant use,
2. Referenced Documents
4.2.3 Asurface that does not inhibit emergence. This relates
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to the media’s ability to resist surface crusting, and
C330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Struc-
4.2.4 A bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation
tural Concrete
and proliferation.
C331 Specification for LightweightAggregates for Concrete
4.3 Material—Whileonematerialmaybeabletoprovideall
Masonry Units
of the needs of a seed (seedling), a mixture of varying
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
percentage of at least two of these materials has been found in
Fluids
practice to yield more consistent results over a wide range of
D2607 Classification of Peats, Mosses, Humus, and Related
management practices. Therefore, seed starters are generally
mixtures of materials. The following is a list of materials that
have been used as or in seed starter mixes:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil
4.3.1 Vermiculite—This is a natural mineral that has been
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a
treated with heat until it becomes porous. This material has the
Medium for Plant Growth.
ability to hold a significant amount of water and still allow for
Current edition approved June 15, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5539 – 94 (2013).
excellent drainage. However, it does not provide for good
DOI: 10.1520/D5539-13.
seed-media contact.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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D5539 − 13
4.3.2 Sphagnum Peat Moss—This is a natural accumulation 4.6 Soluble Salts—The concentration of soluble s
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5539 − 94 (Reapproved 2013) D5539 − 13
Standard Specification for
1
Seed Starter Mix
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5539; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the designation of
a soil or soil-like material for seed starting purposes. This would consist of the duration of germination ending after the cotyledon
stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).
1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificial mixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initial
germination of seeds to the cotyledon stage.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
Alternate sieve designations in parentheses are as provided in Specification E11.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Structural Concrete
C331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Concrete Masonry Units
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
3
D2607 Classification of Peats, Mosses, Humus, and Related Products (Withdrawn 1990)
D4531 Test Methods for Bulk Density of Peat and Peat Products
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms in this test method, general terms, refer to Terminology D653.
4. Material and Manufacture
4.1 The success of a seed starter mix is measured in its ability to provide a germinating seed with certain basic needs, that are
outlined as follows. A variety of materials, both natural and artificial, can be employed to provide the characteristics that will fill
the need.
4.2 Function—A seed starter media provides a seed (seedling) with four basic needs:
4.2.1 Aeration to permit an exchange of gases between the emerging roots and the surrounding medium,
4.2.2 Adequate seed (seedling) to starter media contact to permit water to flow to the seed and seedling root. This function also
relates to the media having a sufficient amount of water retention to maintain the amount of moisture needed for plant use,
4.2.3 A surface that does not inhibit emergence. This relates to the media’s ability to resist surface crusting, and
4.2.4 A bulk density that does not inhibit root elongation and proliferation.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Medium
for Plant Growth.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2013June 15, 2013. Published February 2013July 2013. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20082013 as
D5539 – 94 (2013). (2008). DOI: 10.1520/D5539-94R13.10.1520/D5539-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5539 − 13
4.3 Material—While one material may be able to provide all of the needs of a seed (seedling), a mixture of varying percentage
of at least two of these materials has been found in practice to yield more consistent results over a wide range of management
practices. Therefore, seed starters are generally mixtures of materials. The following is a list of materials that have been u
...
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