TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
 
DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
Agricultural liming materials — Specification  
                                              
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
 Agricultural liming materials — Specification  
 
0 Foreword  
 
 
A liming material can raise the pH of a soil to optimum levels for crop production if used properly. Liming 
materials also provide calcium (Ca) and /or magnesium (Mg) to the soil for plant uptake. Materials that 
can cause an increase in pH include carbonates, oxides and hydroxides of  calcium and magnesium.  
 
This standard has been developed to ensure fair trade practices, safeguard the safety of the consumers 
and protect the environment.  
 
In the preparation of this Tanzania Standard, considerable assistance has been derived from:  
 
KS 2526:2016 Agricultural liming materials -Specification  
 
In reporting the results of a test or analysis made in accordance with this Tanzania Standard, if the final 
value observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with TZS 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
 1 Scope  
 
 
This Tanzania Standard specifies the requirements, methods of sampling and tests for agricultural liming 
materials.  
 
This standard applies to agricultural liming materials, including limestone, (calcitic  and dolomitic). quicklime 
(burnt lime), hydrated lime, slag and shells    
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this standard. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated  references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
TZS 4 Rounding off numerical values.  
 
TZS 156, Fertilizers and soil conditioners — Vocabulary  
 
TZS 1014, Solid fertilizers and soil conditioners — Test sieving  
 
ISO 14820 -1, Fertilizers and liming materials — Sampling and sample preparation — Part 1: Sampling  
 
AOAC 2006.03, Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mead, molybdenum, nickel, and selenium in 
fertilizers — Microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry  
 
 
3 Terms and Definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard, the terms and definitions in TZS 156 and the following apply.  
 
3.1 
agricultural liming material  
all materials containing calcium or magnesium in chemical form, physical condition and quantity 
capable of neutralizing soil acidity  
 
3.2 
limestone  
a material consisting essentially of calcium carbonate or a combination of calcium carbonate with 
magnesium carbonate capable of neutralizing soil acidity  
 
3.3 
Burnt/Quicklime  
a material, made from limestone which consists essentially of calcium oxide or combination of calcium oxide 
with magnesium oxide  
 
3.4 
calcium carbonate equivalent (C.C.E.)  
the acid neutralizing capacity (of an agricultural liming material) of the material expressed as weight percent 
of calcium carbonate  
 
3.5 
fineness  
the percentage by weight of the material which will pass sieves of specified sizes  TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
 3.6 
hydrated lime  
a material, made from lime, which consists essentially of calcium hydroxide or a combination of calcium 
hydroxide with magnesium oxide and/or magnesium hydroxide  
 
 
4 Requirements  
 
 
4.1 Chemical requirements  
 
Agricultural liming materials requirements in terms of calcium carbonate equivalent (C.C.E) are shown in Table 
1. 
 
Table 1 — Agricultural liming materials requirements  
 
No. Material  Calcium carbonate equivalent 
(CCE), % min  
i) Quicklime  140 
ii) Hydrated lime  110 
iii) Limestone  80 
iv) Slag 80 
v) Shells  80 
 
 
4.2 Physical Requirements for agricultural limestone  
 
 
The sieve analysis shall be done in accordance with TZS 1014. Agricultural limestone shall be classified  
according to the  minimum percentage passing the no. 8(2.36 -mm) and no. 60(250µm/0.25mm) as shown 
in Table 2.  
 
Table 2 — Sieve analysis classification for agricultural limestone  
 
Class 
designation  Passing no. 8(2.36mm) sieve, 
min per cent  Passing no. 60(250µm sieve, 
min, per cent  
S 100 100 
T 99 75 
O 95 55 
N 90 40 
E 80 25 
 
5 Contaminants  
Heavy metal contamination in Agricultural liming materials shall not exceed the limits given in table 
3 when determined by the methods prescribed in  AOAC 2006.03 . 
 
 TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
  
Table 3 — Heavy metal contaminants limits  
 
SL No.  Parameter  Limits in ppm  Test methods  
    
i) Arsenic, As, max.  20.0  
    
ii) Cadmium, Cd, max.  15.0 
AOAC 2006.03     
iii) Mercury, Hg, max.  0.1  
    
iv) Selenium, Se, max.  1.0  
    
v) Lead, Pb, max.  30.0  
    
 
 
 
6 Sampling and Testing  
 
6.1       Sampling  
 
Sampling shall be carried out in accordance with ISO 14820 -1. 
 
 
 
6.2 Testing  
 
Testing of the liming materials shall be done as prescribed in the methods of analysis indicated in 
respective standards.  
 
 
7 Packaging, Marking and labelling  
 
7.1 Packaging  
 
Agricultural lime can be supplied in bulk or packaged as agreed between buyer and seller. If supplied in 
package, the package shall be in clean and non -defective material that protects the product from physical 
and chemical contamination and withstand multiple stages of handling (transportation and storage).  
 
7.2 Marking and Labelling  
 
7.2.1 The following shall be legibly and indelibly marked on the package  in either Swahili or Swahili and 
English  
 
a) name and the address of the producer/manufacturer/packer;  
b) type of the agricultural liming material;  
c) the brand or trade name of the material;  
d) the identification of the product as to the type of the agricultural liming material;  
e) the net weight of the agricultural liming material;  
f) the percentage of calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE)  
g) Country of origin  TBS/AFDC10 (5441) P3  
 h) Handling instructions  
i)  Production date and expiry date  
j) Batch number  
k)  Storage conditions  
 
NB: Liming materials supplied in bulk shall bear the above information’s  
 
 
7.2.1  Marking  
 
The containers/bags may also be marked with the TBS Standards Mark of Quality.  
 
NOTE – The TBS Standards Mark of Quality may be used by the manufacturers only under license 
from TBS. Particulars of conditions under which the licenses are granted, may be obtained from 
TBS.