DIN EN 16087-1:2012-01

This European Standard describes a method to determine the aerobic biological activity of growing media and soil improvers or constituents thereof by measuring the oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The oxygen uptake rate is an indicator of the extent to which biodegradable organic matter is being broken down within a specified time period. The method is not suitable for material with a content of particle sizes > 10 mm exceeding 20 %. The material is suspended in water. The respiration rate (that is the oxygen uptake rate) is estimated by measuring the pressure drop in the headspace (that is the gas phase in the closed space above the water phase). The produced CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is removed by a suitable alkaline absorbent. The measurements are performed under defined conditions. The Committee responsible for this standard is NA 057-03-01 AA "Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate" ("Soil improvers and growing media") at DIN.