DIN EN ISO 16198:2013-04

The plant-based test, hereafter called the biotest, enables estimation of the environmental bioavailability of trace elements to plants either basically as concentration in shoots and roots or in a more integrative way as the net uptake flux in plants. The biotest procedure includes two successive steps: (i) a pre-growth of plants in hydroponics and (ii) a growth of plants in contact with soil samples. The concentration in shoots and roots as well as the net uptake flux of trace elements in plants are determined at the end of the second step of the biotest procedure. This biotest is applicable to the assessment of environmental bioavailability of trace elements to plants, more particularly agricultural plants, in soils or soil materials including soils amended before or after field sampling with composts, sludges, wastewaters and other (waste) materials.