ISO 13878-1998 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 13878:1998 — Soil quality — Determination of total nitrogen content by dry combustion ("elemental analysis"). This international standard specifies a laboratory method using high-temperature dry combustion (elemental analysis) to determine total nitrogen content in soil samples.

Abstract

ISO 13878:1998 defines a reproducible procedure for measuring the total nitrogen content of soils by oxidising a weighed portion of dried, prepared soil at high temperature and measuring the nitrogen produced using elemental-analysis instrumentation. The method is intended for routine and research soil-quality determinations and is interoperable with related ISO sample-preparation and moisture/dry-matter standards.

General information

• Status: Current / Published.
• Publication date: 19 March 1998 (ISO designation: ISO 13878:1998).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.10 — Chemical characteristics of soils.
• Edition / version: First edition (1998).
• Number of pages: 5 pages (concise technical method document).

Basic bibliographic and status details are recorded in national and commercial standards catalogs and match ISO bibliographic data.

Scope

Applies to the determination of total nitrogen content in soil by the dry-combustion (elemental analysis) technique. The method covers sample pre-treatment, the combustion principle (oxidation at high temperature in an oxygen-rich atmosphere), calibration and calculation of results expressed on an oven-dry-mass basis. It is applicable to a wide range of soil types for routine and research analyses and is intended to be used alongside ISO soil-sample preparation and moisture/dry-matter standards.

Key topics and requirements

• Analytical principle: dry combustion (elemental analysis) converts nitrogen compounds to N₂/NOₓ for measurement by appropriate detectors.
• Sample preparation: instructions to air- or oven-dry, homogenize and sieve samples to obtain representative, reproducible test portions (used with ISO 11464 and ISO 11465 guidance).
• Combustion and instrumentation: high-temperature oxidation (typically ≥900 °C) in oxygen, with appropriate detectors and calibration using certified reference materials or standards (e.g., acetanilide or equivalent).
• Calibration, quality control and precision: procedures for calibration, repeatability and reporting of results, including expression of results on an oven-dry-mass basis and documentation of deviations.
• Reporting: clear presentation of total nitrogen expressed per unit mass of oven-dry soil, method identification and any sample pretreatment details.

These topics are the standard’s primary technical content and align with related ISO methods for soil analysis.

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and soil testing laboratories, agricultural and agronomy services, research institutions studying soil fertility and nutrient cycling, government environmental monitoring agencies, and consultants involved in land management and remediation. The method is chosen when precise, instrument-based total nitrogen data are required and when elemental-analyser instrumentation (dry-combustion analyzers) is available.

Related standards

Commonly used together with ISO 11464 (sample pretreatment), ISO 11465 (dry matter and water content determination) and ISO 11261 (total nitrogen by modified Kjeldahl method — alternative technique). Standards on measurement accuracy (for precision and reproducibility) such as ISO 5725-series are also relevant. National adoptions and equivalents (DIN, NF, PN and various national catalogs) exist.

Keywords

Soil quality; total nitrogen; dry combustion; elemental analysis; soil testing; nitrogen determination; oven-dry basis; laboratory method; ISO 13878:1998.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 13878:1998 is an international standard that specifies a laboratory method for determining total nitrogen in soils by dry-combustion (elemental analysis).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the analytical principle (high-temperature oxidation), sample preparation requirements (used with ISO pretreatment and moisture/dry-matter standards), calibration and calculation, reporting of results on an oven-dry-mass basis, and quality-control considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Soil and environmental testing laboratories, agronomists, research organizations, regulators and consultants requiring precise total-nitrogen data obtained using elemental analysers.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Catalog entries and standards distributors list ISO 13878:1998 as the published ISO document for this method (status indicated as current in standard catalogs). Users should confirm national adoption and check for any more recent ISO revisions or related EN/ISO updates before implementation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 13878 is part of the wider ISO soil-quality standards family (soil quality test methods and sample-handling standards). It is commonly referenced alongside ISO standards for sample pretreatment and moisture/dry-matter determination.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: total nitrogen, soil quality, dry combustion, elemental analysis, soil testing, ISO 13878.