KENYA STANDARD                  KS 2423 :2018             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Magnesium Nitrate fertilizer , technical 
grade— Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     DRAFT STANDARD    AUGUST    2018 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
ii     
  
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE  REPRESENTA TION  
 
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
Government Chemist  
Mea Ltd.  
Chemagro Ltd  
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS)  
Kenya Agricultural   and livestock research organization  
Yara East Africa Ltd  
Kenya Tea Development Agency  
University of Nairobi  
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and fisheries  
Amiran (K) Ltd  
Toyota Tshusho Fertilizers  
Elgon chemicals  
Osho chemicals  
OCP Kenya Ltd.  
Kel Chemicals  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVI SION 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, 201 8 
 
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KEBS 201 8— All rights reserved   iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA STANDARD                                 KS 2423:201 8
            
 
                     
           
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Magnesium Nitrate  fertilizer , technical grade  
— Specification   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
iv     
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 -20100Tel.: 
(+254 041) 229563, 230939/40                Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 
210555Fax: (+254 041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 2 027814 Foreword  
         
  Foreword      
 
This Kenya standard has been prepared by the technical committee on fertilizers and soil 
conditioners under the guidanc e of the standards projects committee in accordance with 
the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of standards.  
 
 
The rapid expansion of horticulture and irrigated farming has resulted in development  of 
new technologies that aim at maximising nutrient use effici ency and offer opportunities for 
quick responses to plants nutrients needs. This has led to a need to develop special 
fertilizers that can be applied using these new technologies.  
 
 Like other fertilizer products, environmental aspects related to fertilize r raw materials have 
been taken care of,thus limits for heavy metals have been specified. Recent Association of 
official Analytical chemists (AOAC) methods of analysis have been adopted.  
 
 
 
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the  following documents:  
 
1. FAO mineral fertilizer specifications, 2012  
 
 
 
 
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for assistance derived from the above s ource . 
 
 
 
 
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           KENYA STANDARD             
 
 
Magnesium Nitrate  fertilizer , technical grade  — Specificati on 
 
1.0 Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard specifies the requirements, methods of sampling and tests 
for magnesium  Nitrate fertilizer , technical grade . 
 
 
2.0. Definitions and terms  
The terms and abbreviations used in this standard are in accordance with the 
explan ations contained in the standard : ISO 8157:  fertilizers  and soil 
conditioners: vocabulary  
 
 
3.0 Requirements  
 
3.1 Description   
The fertilizer shall be free flowing, in form of granules, pellets, crystals or  prills, free from 
any foreign matter and shall n ot cake on storage  
 
 
3.2 Physical  
The fertilizer shall be fully water soluble.  
 
 
3.3 Chemical  
The material shall comply with the requirements set out in table 1 . Check 
certificates of Analysis  
Table 1 compositional limits  
SL.NO  Characteristic  requirement  Test method  
 Water soluble 
magnesium 
content (as 
Mg)% by 
weight , min 9.4 
 AOAC  
 ii) Total nitrogen  
content  as N 
(% by 
weight)min  10.5 AOAC  
iii Nitrate 
Nitrogen    
iii) Moisture 
content,% by 
weight(max)  1.5 AOAC  
iv pH(1% 
solution ) 4-6 AOAC   
 
  
  
 
 
2.6 Heavy m etal 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 AOAC  
ii) Cadmium, Cd, max.  7.0 AOAC  
iii) Mercury, Hg, max.  0.1 AOAC  
iv) Selenium, Se, max.  1.0 AOAC  
v) Lead, Pb, max.  30.0 AOAC  
Vi Chromium,  Cr, max 500 AOAC  
 
 
3 Packaging and marking  /labelling  
 
 
3.1 Packaging   
 
3.1.1 The fertilizer shall be packaged in materials that ensure  the product integrity  
and quality  and protect   against physical  damage , chemical and moisture 
contamination.  
 
3.1’2. the fill of the package shall comply with the weight and measures act CAP 
513 of the laws of Kenya  
 
3.1.3 The disposal of used package and  condemned fertilizer shall comply with 
EMCA 2015  Act   of the disposal of solids and liquid wastes  
 
 
3.2 Marking / labelling  
The following information shall be clearl y and indelibly marked on each package or 
container.          
 
i. Name, address and physical locat ion of manufacturer/packer/importer;  
ii. name of the fertilizer, i.e.  “Magnesium nitrate  ‘     
iii.  Guaranteed  percentage by mass of the  water soluble  magnesium and  
Nitrogen content   
 3 iv. date of manufacture,  
v.  expiry date  
   vi.      batch/lot number  
   Vii     the n et weight of the fertilizer in the package; in metric units  
  Viii    Storage  and Handling instructions  
  ix       Instructions  for use  
   x      d isposal instructions  
   xi. Country  of origin;  
 
4 Certificate of analysis  
 
Each consignment shall be accompan ied by a certificate of analysis.  
 
Sampling   
4  This shall be carried as  outlined in the ISO standards listed below  
ISO 8633 -Solid fertilizers -- Simple sampling method for small lots  
ISO 8634 - Solid fertilizers -- Sampling plan for the evaluation of a larg e delivery