KENYA  STANDARD                 KS 2228 :2020 
            
          
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Foliar fertilizer (inorganic)  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     DRAFT KENYA STANDARD                             Fourth Edition  
 
 
© KEBS 2020          
  
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE  REPRESENTATION  
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
: 
Kenya Agricultural and livestock Research Organization (KALRO)  
Government chemist  
Mea Ltd   
Amiran (K) Ltd  
Chemagro Ltd.  
Yara East Africa  
Kenya Tea Development Agency.  
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS)  
Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and fisheries  
Osho Chemicals Ltd  
Elgon chemicals   Ltd  
Toyota Tshuso   Fertilizers Africa  
University of Nairobi -Department of plant science and  crop protection  
OCP Africa  
ICL Fertilizers  
Lachlan(K) Ltd  
Wanda Agriculture  
National Potato Council of Kenya  
Kenya Industrial Research and Development   Institute  
Top serve East Africa  
Elgon(K) Ltd  
Kenya flower council  
Kenya Chemical society  
SGS(K) Ltd  
BASF Chemicals  
Twiga Chemicals  
Sanergy   Ltd  
SABIC   Ltd   
SOCAA  
Samsung C& T  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
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for improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of standards, 2020  
  
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KENYA STANDARD      KS 2228:2020                     
          I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foliar fertilizer  (Inorganic) — Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office:  P.O. Box 54974, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax: (+254 020) 604031  
E-Mail: info@kebs.org,  Web:http://www.kebs.org   
 
Coast Region     Lake Region          Rift Valley Region  
P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa -80100   P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu -40100        P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru -20100  
Tel.: (+254 041) 229563, 230939/40                Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555  
Fax: (+254 041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 
 
Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard  has been prepared  by the Technical Committee on Fertilizers  and 
soil conditioners  under the guidance of the standards projects committee  and it is in 
accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of standards . 
 
Foliar fertilizers are formulated specifically  for foliar feeding, optimizing nutrient uptake 
through stomata (plant  
pore in the leaves.  
Their popularity has stemmed from the fact th at they can be used as a shot gun measure 
to correct short term nutri ent deficiencies in plants. They also stimulate the plant to absorb 
more nutrients from the  soil.  
 Foliar feeds are formulated to cater for specific plant needs and mainly for specific stages 
of crop growth .  
 
This method of application is best suited for  relatively low mobile el ements such as 
calcium and zinc, and the micronutrients. It  also a voids the problems of nutrient 
interactions and unfavourable soil pH which results  in nutrient unavailability as may be the 
case in soil applied fertilizers.  
 
This standard has been prepared to encourage safe use of fertilizers , promote fair trad e 
practice s and en sure safety of consumers.  
 
 
During the Review   of this standard , the guarantee  of secondary and micro nutrients   has 
been specified and a tolerance for the   primary elements (Nitrogen, phosphorous and 
Potassium)  given.  
  
  
KENYA STANDARD                                                              KS 2228 :2020   
 
 
 Foliar fertilizer  (inorganic)  — Specification  
 
1 Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard specifies the  requirements and prescribes  methods  of tests for  
inorganic  foliar  fertilizers.  
 
2   Terms and definitions . 
 
 
For the purpose  of this standard the definitions contained in KS ISO 8 157:2015  Fertilizers -
vocabulary,  shall apply  
 
3. Description  
 
The fertilizer shall be  either a solid, homogenous liquid or a suspension concentrate  
 
 
4 Requirements  
 
4.1 Physical  
 
The material shall  be an aqueous solution or if in   solid form it  shall be fully   soluble in 
water.  
 
4.2 Chemical  
 
4.2.1 Nutrient guarantees   
     
4.2.1.1   Where the primary nutrient ( Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium)  are 
guaranteed , the to lerance for the lower limit shall not vary by  more than   0.7 units.  
4.2.1.2 For the secondary and micro nutrient guarantee, inorganic  foliar  fertilize rs shall 
conform to  the minimum limits for the following elements, if declared   
 
   
                            Table 1 A — Minimum percentage for guarantee  
 
SL NO  Element  % 
i) Boron  (B)  0.02 
ii) Calcium   (Ca) 1.00 
iii) Cobalt  (Co)  0.0005  
iv) Copper   (Cu) 0.05 
v) Iron (Fe)  0.10 
vi) Magnesium (Mg)  0.60 
vii) Manganese (Mn)  0.05  
 
 viii) Molybdenum (Mo)  0.0005  
ix) Sulphur  (S) 1.00 
x) Zinc (Zn)  0.05 
 
 
                             
 
 
   
 
 
4.2.2. Foliar fertilizers shall comply with the following compositional limits  
 
 
Table 1B - Characteristics for foliar fertilizer solutions  
 
 
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.3 Chelating compounds - 
 
If chelating  agents  are used, they  shall be stated  
 
 
 
5.0 Heavy metal contaminants   
The heavy metal contaminants, if present, shall not exceed the limits stipulated in Table 2.  
 
 
 
Table 2 — Heavy metal contaminants limits  
 
SL NO  Parameter  Limits in 
ppm Test method  
i) Arsenic, As, max.  20.0  ISO 17318  
ii) Cadmium, Cd, max.  7.0  ISO 17318  
iii) Mercury, Hg, max.  0.1  ISO 17318  
iv) Selenium, Se, max.  1.0  ISO 17318  
v) Lead, Pb, max.  30.0 ISO 17318  
 
 
6 Packaging  and labelling  
 S/No. PARAMETER  Limits /Range  Test 
method  
i) Electrical C onductivity 0.1% solution,  
mS/cm , 250C,Max 10 ISO7888  
ii) pH(1% solution)  4.5-7.5 ISO 10523   
  3 6.1 Packaging   
 
6.1.1 The fertilizer shall be packaged in materials that ensure the product integrity and quality 
against physical damage, chemical and moisture contamination.  
 
6.1’2. the fill of the package shall comply with the weight and measures act CAP 513 of the 
laws of Kenya  
 
6.1.3 The disposal of used package and condemned fertilizer shall comply with EMCA 19 99 
no.8 of the disposal of solids and liquid wastes  
 
6.2 Marking  /Labelling  
 
The following information shall be clear ly and indelibly marked  on each package.          
 
a) Name, address and physical location of manufacturer/packer/importer;  
b)  Brand name of the fertilizer, 
c) Type  of the fertilizer i.e. inorganic  foliar  fertilizer ‘or  ‘inorganic foliar feed ’ 
d) guaranteed percentage  by mass of each of the nutrients   
e) name and percentage by mass of any other guaranteed element present;  
f) date of manufacture, expiry date a nd batch/lot number;  
g) the form in which nutrient is present;  
h) Stage  of crop growth to be applied.  
i) name of the  adjuvant or  chelating material used in case of trace elements ; 
j) storage instruc tions  
k) the net weight of the fertilizer in the package;  
l) country of ori gin; 
 
m) Instructions for use which should include but not limited to the following:  
i) Not to be applied during periods of water stress  unless when under irrigation  
ii) To be applied during nutrition stress periods  
iii) Recommended weather for spraying  
iv) Application rates  
v) Information on compatibility  with fungicides, insecticides or herbicides  as per pest 
control products act, CAP  346 of the laws of Kenya.  
 
7.0. Use of fertilizers in conjunction with pesticides.  
 
Foliar fertilizer use together with pe sticides shall comply with the P est control products act  
cap 346 of the laws of Kenya.  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 8.0 Certificate of analysis  
 
Each consignment shall be accompanied by a certificate of analysis.  
 
 
9.0. Sampling  
This shall be carried out as outlined in the following standards:  
ISO 86 33-Solid fertilizers -- Simple sampling method for small lots  
ISO 8634 - Solid fertilizers -- Sampling plan for the evaluation of a large delivery