KENYA STANDARD              KS 2473: 2018 
ICS 67.080.10  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coco peat  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ©KEBS 2023         Third  Edition 20 23 
 
 
 
 APPROVED  
2018 -06-29 KS 2473: 2023 
 
ii         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
 
The following members participated in the development of this standard:  
 
Amua Self Help Group  
Bahari M ultipurpose   
BICODE  
Coast Coconut Farm  
Honest Products Ltd . 
Kenya Aloe Vera Products  
Kenya Nut Growers Association  
Kentaste L td. 
Kenya Industrial Development Research Institute (KIRDI)  
Kenya Institute of Education (KIE)  
Matsangoni Self Help Group , Kilifi 
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation  
Mnazi Development Enterprise  
Mnazi Network, Rabai  
Mnazi Vendors, Kisauni  
Mombasa Technical University  
Mpeketoni Palm Wine, Lamu West  
Msambweni Farmers Co -op, Msambweni  
New Hope Women Group, Kisauni  
New Galana, Kilif i 
Pate, Lamu East  
Palm International, Kisauni  
Pwani University, Department of Chemistry  
Tarumbeta Women Group, kilifi  
Tezo Roka Farmers, Kilifi  
Ukunda Group, Msambweni  
Wakesho Women Group, Kisauni  
Kenya Coconut Development Authority (KCDA)  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed. Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of  Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2018 
  
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130  of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copyright 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as p rovided unde r Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in  writing 
from the Managing Director . 
 
 KENYA STANDARD             KS 2473: 2023 
ICS 67.080.10  
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved      iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coco pea t — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office: P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254  020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020)  604031  
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Coast Region     Lake Regi on         Rift Valley Region  
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Tel.: (+254  041) 229563, 230939/40  Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555  
Fax: (+254  041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 
 KS 2473: 2023 
 
iv         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard was developed by the Coconut and Coconut Related Products and Services Technical 
Committee under the guidance of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the 
procedures of the Kenya Bureau of Standards.  
 
Coco peat  (cocopeat ), also known as coir pith , coir fibre pith , coir dust , or simply coir, is made from coco nut 
husks , which are byproducts  of other industries that use coconuts. Raw coconuts are washed, heat -treated, 
screened and graded before being processed into coco peat products of various granularity and denseness, 
which are then used for horticultural and agricultural applications and as industrial absorbent.  
 
Coco peat is used for seed starting, bedding plants, planters, gar dens, container plants. Anywhere you can 
use peat moss. The properties of Coco Peat make it resistant to bacterial and fungal growth. So coco peat is 
a multipurpose growing medium that provides new opportunities for potting mix suppliers, seedling nurserie s, 
hydroponic growers & golf green constructors.  
 
Coco peat is a proven natural alternative to mined peat moss, therefore using it helps slow down peat 
extraction from environmentally sensitive swamps worldwide. Used as a growing medium c oco peat 
outperfor ms most of the popular brands of peat and sphagnum p eats.  
 
Usually shipped in the form of compressed bales, briquettes, slabs or discs, the end user usually expands 
and aerates the compressed coco peat by the addition of water . 
 
Due to low levels of nutrie nts in its composition, coco peat is usually not the sole component in the medium 
used to grow plants. When plants are grown exclusively in coco peat, it is important to add nutrients 
according to the specific plants' needs.  
 
Being a good absorbent, dry co co peat can be used as an oil absorbent on slippery floors. Coco peat is also 
used as a bedding in animal farms and pet houses to absorb animal waste so the farm is kept clean and dry. 
Though its application in Kenya is not so widespread, the potential is there.  This document is intended to 
offer guidelines on the quality to be marketed within our market.  
 
This document was prepared by KEBS/TC 171/SC 01, on Coconut  and Coco nut related services . This 
Fourth  edition cancels and replaces the third edition ( KS 2473:2018 ), of which it constitutes a minor revision.  
 
The changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:  
— Test methods for parameters in Table 1  have been updated  and included as appropriate ; 
— Method of test for pH has  been updated and include d in Annex B ; 
— Method of Test for Ash content and determination of Bulk Density have been referenced  to A5TM D 2974 -        
and ASTM D4531 -86(2008) , respectively ; 
— An exclusion clause w as inserted in  the scope ; 
— the document has been editorially revised.  
 
During the development of this stand ard reference was obtained from the following document:  
 
KNWA 2473:2014, Coco p eat — Specification . 
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance received from this source  
 
 
 
  
   KENYA STANDARD                      KS 2473: 20 23 
 
 
© KEBS 2023 — All rights reserved                      1  
Coco peat  — Specification  
 
 
1  Scope 
 
1.1 This Kenya Standard  specifies  the requirements, test methods and sampling  for coco peat for 
agricultural and industrial application s. 
 
1.2 Coco peat products (also known as coir pith or c oir peat) for use as a growing medium in various 
grades and finished products for horticultural/agricul tural use e.g. grow slabs, grow bags, bales, blocks, 
discs,  pots, starter cubes and small blocks. Coco peat as used in this standard includes the products 
known as "chips" and "crush", derived from the wholechoppe d and crushed husk pieces. Product may be 
compressed or non -compressed.  
  
1.3 This standard does not cover the requirements for importation of the following plant commodity 
classes : 
 
• Excavated peat.  
 
• Coco peat growing media associated with the importation of nursery stock.  
 
2 Normative Refrence s 
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document. For dated references , only the edition cited applies. For undated refe rences, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
A5TM D 2974 -  Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other  Organic 
Soils        
ASTM D4531 -86(2008)  - Standard Test Methods For Bulk Density Of Peat And Peat Products  
 
3 Terms and d efinitions  
 
For the purposes of this standard , the following term and definition shall apply:  
 
3.1 
coco peat  
is the ''coir fibre pith'' or ''coir dust'' a bi -product produced when processing the coconut husks  for extraction 
of long fibre from the husks. Coco peat is the binding material that comes from the fibre fraction of the 
coconut husk . 
 
4 General r equirements  
 
4.1  Coco peat shall be kept clean and free of seeds, pests, soil, animal material and any other 
contamination.  Where possible;  
 
4.1.1 No imported coco peat shall to be produced from the traditional method of retting husks in open 
troughs or ponds.  
 
4.1.2 Washing or rinsing of coco peat, chips or crush shall be carried out with bore water, not pond or  dam 
water.  
 
4.1.3 Coco peat drying areas shall be buffered underneath from contact with soil.  
 KS 2473:20 23 
 
2         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  4.1.4 A plant free buffer zone of 3  metres  shall be maintained around the coco peat drying areas unless  
concrete walls are  built on the perimeter of concrete pads.  
 
5 Transport requir ements  
 
All consignments shall be packed and shipped in a manner to prevent contamination by regulated pests.  
 
6  Documentation  
 
All documentation shall  be inspected to ensure compliance with the requirements of this standard and any  
additional requi rement s specified on an import permit. Documentation shall be in the English language, and 
can be bilingual.  
 
It is the importer's /exporter’s  responsibility to ensure that any documentation presented is made in 
accordance with the requirements of this standard and is clearly legible. Failure to do so may result in delays 
in obtaining authorised movement and/or biosecurity clearance, or the rejection of consignments.  
 
7 Treatment  
 
7.1 Coco peat shall be treated in accordance to Annex A in o rder to enhance b iosecurity .  
7.2 Alternative of ficial procedure for the killing, inactivation or removal of pests, or for rendering pests infertile 
or for devitalization shall be in accordance to FAO, 1990, revised 1995 . 
 
8 Microbiological limits  
 
When tested in accordanc e with relevant Kenya Standard, t he microbiological requirements shall be such 
that; 
 
a) E Coli / gm: Absent  
 
b) Salmonella / 25 gm: Absent  
 
 
9  Chemical requirements  
 
The chemical requirements  for coco pe at sh all be as given in Table 1.  
 
Table  1 — Chemical requi rements  for coco  peat 
 
Parameter  
 Limit  Test Method  
pH 5 – 6.8 Annex B  
E.C (min)  0.488  ms/cm  Annex C 
Moisture content at 105  ºC(min.)  10.82  % Anne x D 
Ash at 900  ºC 5.96 % A5TM D 2974 -87 
Organic matter at 900  ºC (on dried basis) (min.)  93.32  % Annex E 
Bulk d ensity  (min.)  157 k g/m3 ASTM D4531 -
86(2008)  
Sodium  (min.)  142 mgr/l  Flame  
photometer (Jackson, 
1973)  Potassium  (min.)  710 mgr/l  
Iron (min)  1004 mgr/l  Atomic Absorption  
Spectrophotometer 
(Make: Varian 
Techron, 
Model Spectromete r 
AA 10/20 BQ  Manganese  (min.)  - 
Zinc (min)  219 micrograms/l  
Copper  (min.)  181 micrograms/l  
Nitrogen  (min.)  0.40 % Kjeldahl digestion  
(Humphries, 1956)  KS 2473:20 23 
 
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved    3 Parameter  
 Limit  Test Method  
Phosphorus  8 – 40 mgl -1 Vanado  
molybdate 
phosphate yellow 
colour method 
(Jackson, 1973)   
Magnesium (min.)  15 mg-1 EDTA titration 
method (Derderian, 
1961).  
Calcium  (min.)  50 EDTA titration 
method (Derderian, 
1961).  
Ca/Mg ratio                 1.5 – 10.0  
N Drawdown Index           0.2 min.  As appropriate  
 
10  Sampling  of coco peat  
 
For every co nsignment, sample s will be randomly taken by a n Inspector and sub -samples sent for a grow out 
test in accordance set na tional procedure (compressed samples shall  be destructively broken down). 
Consignments will be randomly sampled at rates in accordance with  Table 2: 
 
 
Table 2 — Sampling for coco peat  
 
Test s ample s ize (per container or part container)  
 
Number of ite ms 
per lot type  Bales  Blocks (30 x30 
x15cm), s labs  
(1 metre) and 
uncompressed b ags Half slabs  Smaller items e.g. 
starter blocks, 
gerbera disc s 
1 – 50 1 2 2 4 
51 – 100 1 3 4 8 
101 – 200 2 4 6 16 
210 – 350 3 6 12 20 
351 – 500 3 8 16 24 
501 – 750 3 8 20 24 
751 – 1200  3 10 20 32 
Over 1200  3 10 20 32 
Over 4000  4 12 24 40 
Over 10000  4 15 30 60 
 
All consignments awaiting results of the grow out test are to be held at a transitional facility until such time as   
insecurity clearance is given. All costs a ssociated with the grow out test are to occur at the importer's 
expense.  
 
11 Packaging  
 
Coco peat shall be pac ked in materials that safeguard  its integrity and  environmentally friendly.  
 
12 Labelling  
 
The following information shall  be legibly and indelibl y marked in the labels : 
 
i) Name and physical address of the manufact urer; 
ii) Name of the product ; 
iii) Weight of the product ; KS 2473:20 23 
 
4         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  iv) Instructions for use ; 
v) Storage instructions ; 
vi) Net weight ; 
vii) Country of origin ; and 
viii) Treatment method  used . KS 2473:20 23 
 
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved    5  
Annex A  
(normative)  
 
Treatment for coco peat  
 
A.1 Treatment o ptions  
 
Any treatment completed prior to shipment shall compl y with the requirement s of this standar d. All 
treatments will be carried out at the importer's risk and expense. MPI accepts one or more  of the following 
treatment options:  
 
A.1.1  Treatment with ethylene oxid   
 
One of the following rates shall be used:  
 
Under initial minimum vacuum of 50 kilopa scals at 1500  g/m3 for 4 h at 50  ºC; or 1500  g/m3 for 24  h at 21  ºC. 
Ethylene oxide treatment shall be given within 21 days of arrival.  
 
A.1.2  Heat treatment with low humidity heat  
 
The following rate shall be used:  
 
85 ºC core tem peratur e for 15 continuo us h with 40  % relative humidity.  
 
A.1.3  Autoclavin g 
 
The following rate shall be used:  
 
118 ºC for 30 min  at 100KPa.  
 
Other rates of steam, other fumigants or other treatments that can be proven to devitalise seeds will be given 
consideration on applicat ion. 
 
NOTE    Any treatment should be given before insertion of a product into grow slabs/grow bag s if the treatment will not permeate the 
bags.  
 
A.2 Equivalence  
 
Coco peat and coir fibre products may also be allowed entry into Kenya  if, in the opinion of t he Chief 
Technical Officer, the measures applied to the goods are considered to be equivalent to the measures taken 
for managing the risks associated with the importation of those goods.  
 KS 2473:20 23 
 
6         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  Annex B 
(Normative)  
pH (Potential Hydrogen):  
Principle: pH is measu red in the same method as EC using hand held pH me ter. The most popular method 
for pH measurement,  however, is 1:5 dry method. But 1:1.5 wet method gives a more realistic pH reading. 
Ensure the water used for measuring pH is neutral (7.0).  The pH reading o f the solution directly gives the pH 
of the cocopeat.  
 
 Another method of measuring pH would be to add pH neutral water 5 times the weight of the cocopeat (500 
ml to 100 grams). This quantity of water would completely soak the cocopeat imitating growing co nditions. 
Allow to soak for 15 mins, squeeze the material a nd measure the pH of the solution. This method usually 
gives a lower pH reading than other methods.  KS 2473:20 23 
 
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved    7  
Annex C  
(Norma tive) 
Coco Peat  electrical conductivity and gypsum requirement  
 
C.1 Principle  
Coco Peat  with a pH value higher than 8.0 –8.5 may have the following special features:  
• presence of excessive amounts of soluble salts;  
• presence of excessive amounts of Na on the exchange complex.  
Table C.1 summarizes the chemical properties of salt -affected s oils. 
Table C.1. Chemical characteristics of saline, non -saline sodic and saline sodic soil  
Coco Peat  EC (dS/m)  Exchangeable Sodium 
percentage  pH 
Saline  
  
  
  
Sodic (Non -saline)  
  
  
  
Saline (Non -Sodic)  
  
  
  
 
Such Peats  are generally not considered su itable for growing most crops unless  treated with suitable 
amendment materials. However, there are salt -tolerant crops that can grow on these Peats . 
To de termine the quality of these peats, the following estimations are required:  
• pH (as described above);  
• salt content or EC;  
• exchangeable Na or gypsum requirement . 
C.2 Electrical conductivity  
Electrical conductivity is a measure of the ionic transport in a solution between the  anode and cathode. This 
means, EC is normally considered to be a me asurement of the dissolved salts in a solution. Similar to a 
metallic conductor, they obey Ohm’s law.  
As EC depends on the number of ions in the solution, it is important to know the peat/water ratio used. The 
EC of a peat is conventionally based on the measurement of the EC in the soil solution extract from a 
saturated soil paste, as it has been found that the ratio of the soil solution in saturated soil paste is about 2–3 
times higher than that at field capacity.  
As determining the EC of coco peat  solutio n from a saturate d coco peat  paste is cumbersome and requires 
400–500 g of peat sample for the determination, a less complex method is normally used. Generally, a 1:2  
peat/water suspension is used.  
C.2.1 Apparatus  
• an EC meter;  
• some beakers (25 ml), Erlenmeyer flasks (250 m l) and pipettes;  
• filter paper.  
To prepare the reagent (0.01M potassium chloride solution), dry a small quantity of AR -grade potassium 
chloride at 60 °C for 2 hours. Weigh 0.7456 g of it, dissolve it in freshly prepared distilled water, and  make 
the volume up to 1 litre.  
This solution gives an EC of 1 411.8 × 10 -3, i.e., 1.412 mS/cm at 25 °C. For best result s, select a  
conductivity standard (KCl solution) close to the sample value.  
 KS 2473:20 23 
 
8         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved  C.2.2 Procedure for determining EC  
C.2.2. 1. Place  40 g of coco peat  in a 250 -ml Erlenmeyer flask, add 80 ml of distilled water, stopper the flask, 
and shake on a reciprocating shaker for 1 hour. Filter through No. 1 filter paper.  
C.2.2. 2. Wash  the conductivity electrode with distilled water, and rinse with standar d KCl solution.  
C.2.2.3. Pour  some KCl solution into a 25 -ml beaker and  dip the electrode in the solution. Adjust the 
conductivity meter to read 1.412 mS/cm, corrected to 25 °C.  
C.2.2. 4. Wash  the electrode, and dip it into the coco peat  extract.  
C.2.2. 5. Record the digital  display corrected to 25 °C. The EC reading is a measure of the soluble salt 
content in the extract, and an indication of salinity status of the coco peat sample (Table C.2). 
Table C.2. General interpretation of EC values  
Coco Peat  EC Total salt content  Crop reaction  
(1) (2) 
(mS/cm)  (3) (4) 
Salt-free 
  
  Salinity effect 
negligible, except for 
more sensitive crops  
Slightly saline  4-8 0.15-0.35 Yield of many crops 
restricted  
Moderately saline  8.5-15 0.35-0.65 Only t olerant crops 
yield satisfactorily  
Highly saline  
  
  Only very tolerant crops 
yield satisfactorily  
 
C.3 Gypsum requirement  
In the estimation of gypsum requirement of saline -sodic/sodic coco peat  (Schoonover, 1952), the  attempt is 
to measure the quantity of gypsum (calcium sulp hate) required to  replace the Na from the exchange 
compl ex. The Na so replaced with the Ca of the gypsum is removed through leaching of the peat. The coco 
peat treated with gypsum become dominated with Ca in the exchange complex.  
When the Ca of the gypsum is exchanged with  Na, there is a reduction in the Ca conc entration in the 
solution. The quantity of Ca reduced is equivalent to the Ca exchanged with Na. It is equivalent to the 
gypsum requirement of the coco peat when “Ca” is expressed as CaSO4.  
C.3.1  Apparatus required c onsists of: 
• a mechanical shaker;  
• a burette (50 ml);  
• some pipettes (100 ml and 5 ml).  
C.3.2  The reagents required are:  
i) Saturated gypsum  (calcium sulphate) solution: Add 5 g of chemically pure CaSO4.2H2O to 1 litre of 
distilled water. Shake vigorously for  10 minutes using a mechanical shaker and filter through No. 1 filter 
paper . 
ii) 0.01N CaCl2 solution : Dissolve exactly 0.5  g of AR -grade CaCO3 powder in about 10 ml of 1:3 diluted 
HCl. When completely dissolved, transfer to a 1-litre volu metric flask and dilute to the mark with distilled 
water. Do not use CaCl2 salt as it is highly hygroscopic.  
iii) 0.01N versenate solution : Dissolve 2.0 g of pure ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) – disodium salt 
and 0.05 g of magnesium chloride (AR -grade) in about 5 0 ml of water and dilute to 1 litre. Titrate a portion of 
this against 0.01N of CaCl2 solution to standardize.  KS 2473:20 23 
 
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved    9 iv) Eriochrom e Black T (EBT) indicator : Dissolve 0.5 g of EBT dye and 4.5 g of hydroxylamine hydrochloride 
in 100 ml of 95 -perce nt ethanol. Store  in a stoppered bottle or flask.  
v) Ammonium hydroxide -ammonium chloride buffer : Dissolve 67.5 g of pure ammonium chloride in 570 ml of 
concentrated ammonium hydroxide and dilute to 1 litre. Adjust the pH to 10 using dilute HCl or dilute 
NH4OH.  
C.3.3 P roce dure : 
C.3.3. 1. Weigh  5 g of air -dry soil in a 250 -ml conical flask.  
C.3.3. 2. Add  100 ml of the s aturated gypsum solution. Firmly insert a rubber stopper and  shake for 5 
minutes.  
C.3.3. 3. Filter  the contents through No. 1 filter paper.  
C.3.3.4. Transfer  5 ml of aliquot of the clear filtrate into a 100 or 150 -ml porcelain dish.  
C.3.3. 5. Add  1 ml of the ammonium hydroxid e-ammonium chloride buffer solution and 2 –3 drops of EBT 
indicator.  
C.3.3. 6. Place  0.01N versenate solution in a 50 -ml burette and titrate the  contents in the dish until the wine 
red colour starts to change to sky blue. Volume of versenate used = B.  
C.3.3. 7. Run a blank using 5 ml of saturated gypsum solution in place of sample aliquot. Volume of 
versenate solution used = A.  
The gypsum requireme nt (in tonnes per  hectare) is given by: (A - B) × N × 382.  
where:  
A = millilitres of EDTA (versenate) used for blank titration;  
B = millilitres of ETDA used for coco peat  extract;  
N = normality of EDTA solution  KS 2473:20 23 
 
10         © KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved   
Annex D  
(Normative)  
Determination of Coco  Peat  moisture  
 
D.1 Principle . The gravimetric method of moisture estimation is most widely used where the Coco peat 
sample is placed in an oven at 105 °C and dried to a constant weight. The difference in weight is considered 
to be the wat er present in the  soil sample.  
The apparatus required in order to determine the soil moisture consists of:  
i. an aluminium moisture box;  
ii. an oven;  
iii. a desiccator.  
D.2 Procedure for determining the coco peat moisture  
D.2.1. Put 100 g of coco peat  sample in th e aluminium moisture box and place in the oven after removing the 
lid of the box.  
D.2.2. Keep  the sample at 105 °C until it attains a constant weight. This may take 24–36 hours.  
D.2.3. Cool  the sample, first in the switched -off oven and then in a desiccator.  
D.2.4. Weigh  the c ooled sample. The loss in weight is equal to the moisture contained in 100 -g coco peat  
sample.  
D.3 Results  
The percentage of moisture is calculated as:  
Moisture percent = 
 100  
 
The corresponding moisture correction factor (mcf) for analytical results or the multiplication factor for sample 
to be weighed for analysis is:  
Moisture correction factor = 
  
 KS 2473:20 23 
 
© KEBS 20 23 — All rights reserved    11  
Annex E 
(Normative)  
 
Determination of Organic Matter  
 
E.1 Principle.  There are various methods for es timating O rganic Matter in soi l/peat . Loss of weight on 
ignition can be used as a direct measure of the O rganic Matter contained in the soil /peat . It can also be 
expressed as the content of organic C arbon  in the soil /coco peat . It is generally assumed that, on  average, 
Organic Matter contains about 58 percent org anic C arbon . Organic matter / organic C arbon can also be 
estimated by volumetric and colorimetric methods. However, the use of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) 
involved in these estimations is considered a limitat ion because of it s hazardous nature. Soil /coco peat  
organic ma tter (SOM) content can be used as an index of N availability (potential of a soil to supply N to 
plants) because the N content in SOM is relatively constant.  
E.2 Loss of weight on ignition  Method  
E.2.1 Apparatus : 
• a sieve;  
• a beaker;  
• an oven;  
• a muffle furnace.  
E.2.2 Procedure  
E.2.2.1. Weigh  5.0–10.0 g (to the nearest 0.01 g) of sieved (2 mm) coco peat into an ashing vessel (50 -ml 
beaker or other suitable vessel).  
E.2.2.2. Place  the ashing vessel wi th coco peat  in a drying oven set at 105 °C and dry for 4 hours.  
E.2.2.3  Remove the ashing vessel from the drying oven and place in a dry atmosphere. When cooled, weigh 
to the nearest 0.01 g.  
E.2.2.4  Place the ashing vessel with coco peat into a muffl e furnace and  bring the temperature to 900 °C. 
Ash in the furnace for 4 hours.  
E.2.2.5  Remove the ashing vessel from the muffle furnace, cool in a dry atmosphere, and weigh to the 
nearest 0.01 g.  
E.3 Results  
The percentage of OM is given by:  
Percent organic matter (OM)  = 
  
where:  
W1 is the weight of soil at 105 °C;  
W2 is the weight of soil at 900 °C.  
The percent of organic C is given by: % OM × 0.58.