1、Designation: D5539 94 (Reapproved 2013)Standard Specification forSeed Starter Mix1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5539; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in par
2、entheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics,physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the desig-nation of a soil or soil-like ma
3、terial for seed starting purposes.This would consist of the duration of germination ending afterthe cotyledon stage (at the opening of the first true leaves).1.2 Seed starter mix may include natural soils and artificialmixtures of natural or artificial materials used for the initialgermination of se
4、eds to the cotyledon stage.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2C330 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Struc-tural ConcreteC331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for ConcreteMasonry UnitsD653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and ContainedFluidsD2607 Classification of Peats
5、, Mosses, Humus, and RelatedProducts (Withdrawn 1990)3D4531 Test Methods for Bulk Density of Peat and PeatProductsE11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSieves3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms in this test method,refer to Terminology D653.4. Material and Manufa
6、cture4.1 The success of a seed starter mix is measured in itsability to provide a germinating seed with certain basic needs,that are outlined as follows.Avariety of materials, both naturaland artificial, can be employed to provide the characteristicsthat will fill the need.4.2 FunctionA seed starter
7、 media provides a seed (seed-ling) with four basic needs:4.2.1 Aeration to permit an exchange of gases between theemerging roots and the surrounding medium,4.2.2 Adequate seed (seedling) to starter media contact topermit water to flow to the seed and seedling root. Thisfunction also relates to the m
8、edia having a sufficient amount ofwater retention to maintain the amount of moisture needed forplant use,4.2.3 A surface that does not inhibit emergence. This relatesto the medias ability to resist surface crusting, and4.2.4 A bulk density that does not inhibit root elongationand proliferation.4.3 M
9、aterialWhile one material may be able to provide allof the needs of a seed (seedling), a mixture of varyingpercentage of at least two of these materials has been found inpractice to yield more consistent results over a wide range ofmanagement practices. Therefore, seed starters are generallymixtures
10、 of materials. The following is a list of materials thathave been used as or in seed starter mixes:4.3.1 VermiculiteThis is a natural mineral that has beentreated with heat until it becomes porous. This material has theability to hold a significant amount of water and still allow forexcellent draina
11、ge. However, it does not provide for goodseed-media contact.4.3.2 Sphagnum Peat MossThis is a natural accumulationof plant material decayed and decaying under anaerobicconditions, and meeting the specifications outlined in Classi-fication D2607. Industry-wide, this seems to be the onematerial that h
12、as no substitute.4.3.3 PerliteThis is a volcanic ash that looks like smallbeads of plastic. Similar to vermiculite, it holds less water butprovides more seed-media contact.4.3.4 Coarse SandThis is mineral soil material that passesthrough a No. 10 sieve but is retained on a No. 40 sieve(Specification
13、 E11). It provides good drainage and maintainsfriability.4.3.5 Expanded Shale, Clay, or Slate These are engi-neered materials that are structural grade, inert, porous light-weight aggregates with properties meeting the requirements of1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D1
14、8 on Soiland Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as aMedium for Plant Growth.Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2013. Published February 2013. Originallyapproved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D5539 94 (2008).DOI: 10.1520/D5539-94R13.2For reference
15、d ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.
16、astm.org.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States1Specification C330 and C331. Because of their particlestrength these aggregates do not consolidate after initialcompaction and are thus free draining.4.3.6 Peat Humus and Other
17、Peat Products This materialis more highly decomposed than the sphagnum variety. Itmeets the specifications outlined in Classification D2607.While it may be used in the mixture, it tends to compact easily.4.3.7 Composted Organic MaterialsThis material has de-sirable nutrient qualities if the seedling
18、 is not to be trans-planted; however, it has the same drawbacks as the peat humus.Other properties of this material may or may not be desirabledepending on the organic parent material and the manner ofcomposting.4.3.8 Other Organic MaterialsWhile raw organic mattermay be tempting from the standpoint
19、 of increased friability, itmay lead to nitrogen depletion and pest (disease and insect)problems. Also, some wood products contain natural andartificial toxins which are lethal to plants. As such, eachmaterial would have to be evaluated on its own merit.4.3.9 Other Inorganic MaterialsThis category i
20、ncludescinders, ashes, and a variety of artificial inert soil-like material.Each of these materials would have to be evaluated based on itsability to hold moisture, soluble salt content, resistance tocompaction, and pH.4.4 DensityThe bulk density of the media must be suchthat it does not inhibit pla
21、nt emergence or root elongation. Abulk density less than 1.3 g/cm3(on an oven dry basis) hasbeen found in practice to provide adequate results. Thismeasurement is made using Test Method D4531 for the drydensity of the media.4.5 pHThe optimum pH for a seed starter media varies bythe species of the pl
22、ant being grown. Thus, a specific optimumrange of pH is not appropriate for this specification. However,the pH must not be extremely acidic or basic.4.6 Soluble SaltsThe concentration of soluble salts mustbe such that it will result in a conductivity less than 3.5 mmhos(0.35 S/m).4Also the portion o
23、f the concentration of saltsattributable to sodium (Na) or chloride (Cl) must not exceed10 % of the total salt concentration. Conductivity measure-ments are made by method 10-3.3 in Agronomy No. 9, Part 2.54.7 NutrientsSince seeds contain their own food supply,the nutrient content of the growth medi
24、a is not an issue. Overthe germination period covered by this specification, seeds willsprout and form healthy seedlings in a mixture totally devoid ofnutrients. However, low concentrations of nutrients in themixture pose no drawbacks in the stage of seedling growthcovered by this specification and
25、may yield certain advantages.Nutrients in a starter mix also allows a seedling to remain in thesame media further into its life, reducing the need for trans-planting. Since nutrients pose no harm and are beneficial to theplant in later seedling growth stages, the issue of plant nutrientsin the seed
26、starter mix is left to the individual manufacturer oruser.4.8 SanitationGerminating seedlings are extremely vul-nerable to insects and diseases. To protect the seedling throughthis period, handling of the media must be as sanitary aspractical to reduce the amount of harmful insect eggs andlarvae, ne
27、matodes, viruses, and microbes. Further sterilizationtechniques can be used, if desired.5. Rejection5.1 The mixture cannot be labeled as a seed starter mix if itfails to conform to any of the requirements of this specification.6. Packaging and Package Marking6.1 Unless otherwise specified in the pur
28、chase contract orby the purchaser, the prepared mix is packaged in variousquantities. Bales and bulk sales are also allowed.6.2 Unless otherwise specified in the purchase contract orby the purchaser, the name of the manufacturer, name ofproduct, net volume, and a statement denoting compliance withth
29、is specification shall be legibly marked on each package.7. Keywords7.1 horticulture; peat; seed starter; seedings; soilASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Users of this standard are express
30、ly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the riskof infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years andif not revised,
31、either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of theresponsible technical committee, which you may att
32、end. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you shouldmake your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,United States.
33、Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the aboveaddress or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or serviceastm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secu
34、red from the ASTM website (www.astm.org/COPYRIGHT/).4A conductivity of 3.6 mmhos (0.35 S/m) is safe for most plants; however, somesalt sensitive plant species can be damaged by a conductivity of 3.5 mmhos.5“Methods of SoilAnalysis,” Method 10-3.3, Agronomy No. 9, Part 2,AmericanSociety of Agronomy, Madison, WI, 1982.D5539 94 (2013)2
