PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT  DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 1660  
First Edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 1660 : 2017 
© UNBS 2017   
  
Inorganic foliar fertilizer — Specification 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS 1660: 2017  
ii © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2017   
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 Foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda, as amended.  UNBS is mandated to co-
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Draft Uganda Standard has been developed as a result of a need to provide guidance to industry in 
production and regulation of Inorganic fertilizers. 
This Draft Uganda Standard was developed by the UNBS/TC 2/SC 20 – Agrochemicals and veterinary drugs 
Sub Committee under the Food and Agriculture standards Technical Committee, UNBS/TC 2. 
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 1660 : 2017 
 
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  1 
 Inorganic foliar fertilizer — Specification 
1 Scope 
This Draft Uganda Standard specifies the requirements, methods of sampling and tests for inorganic foliar 
fertilizers. 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies. 
AOAC 928.02:  Chlorine (Water-soluble) in fertilizers 
AOAC 965.11:  Cobalt in fertilizers 
AOAC 975.01:  Copper in fertilizers.  
AOAC 975.02 : Zinc in fertilizers  
AOAC 980.01 , Iron in fertilizers. 
AOAC 980.02 , Sulfur in fertilizers. 
AOAC 982.01:  Boron (Acid- and Water-Soluble) in Fertilizers 
AOAC 983.04:  Sodium in fertilizers  
AOAC 984.01 , Magnesium (Acid-soluble) in fertilizers 
AOAC 2006.0 3: Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Lead, Molybdenum, Nickel, and selenium in fertilizers. 
Microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma -optical emission spectrometry  
ISO 7888, Water quality —Determination of electrical conductivity  
ISO 8157, Fertilizers and soil conditioners —Vocabulary 
ISO 8633, Solid fertilizers — Simple sampling method for small lots  
ISO 8634, Solid fertilizers — Sampling plan for the evaluation of a large delivery  
3 Terms and definitions 
For the purposes of this standard, in addition to the terms and definitions provided in ISO 8157 the following 
terms and definitions shall apply. PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS 1660: 2017  
2 © UNBS 2017 – All rights reserved  
 3.1 foliar fertilizer 
a liquid, water soluble,  fertilizer applied to a plant’s  foliage in a fine spray so that the  plant can absorb the  
nutrients through its leaves”.  
3.2  electrical conductivity 
a measure of the total soluble salts, or the soluble nutrients (or ions) present in a fertilizer 
4 Requirements 
4.1 Physical 
The material shall be an aqueous solution or if in solid form it shall be completely soluble in water. 
4.2 Chemical  
4.2.1 Nutrient guarantees  
 Inorganic foliar fertilizers shall conform to the minimum limits for the following elements, if declared 
Table 1 —  Minimum Concentration for Secondary and Micro Nutrients 
SN Element  Minimum conc. % Test method  
i) Boron  (B)  0.02 AOAC 982.01  
ii) Calcium (Ca) 1.00 AOAC 945.04  
iii) Cobalt (Co) 0.0005  AOAC 965 .11 
iv) Copper  (Cu) 0.05 AOAC 975.01  
v) Iron (Fe)  0.10 AOAC 980.01  
vi) Magnesium (Mg)  0.60 AOAC 984.01  
vii) Manganese (Mn)  0.05 AOAC 940.02  
viii) Molybdenu m (Mo)  0.0005  AOAC 2006.03  
ix) Sulphur (S) 1.00 AOAC 980.02  
x) Zinc (Zn)  0.05 AOAC 928.02  
Xi) Nickel (Ni)  0.0010  AOAC 975.02  
Xii) Sodium (Na)  0.1000  AOAC 983.04  
 
4.2.2 Electrical Conductivity 
Inorganic foliar fertilizers shall conform to the Maximum limit of 10 mS/cm for Electrical Conductivity (0.1% 
solution, 25ºC) , when tested in accordance with ISO 7888 
4.3  Chelating compounds 
If chelating agents such as EDTA, NTA and IDHA are used, they shall be stated PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS 1660: 2017 
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  3 
 5 Heavy metal contaminants  
When tested in accordance with the methods specified therein, the heavy metal contaminants shall not 
exceed those indicated in Table 2.  
Table 2 — Heavy metal contaminants limits 
Sn Parameter  Limits in mg/kg  Test method  
i) Arsenic, As, max.  20.0  
AOAC 2006.03  ii) Cadmium , Cd, max.  7.0 
iii) Mercury, Hg, max.  0.1 
iv) Lead, Pb, max.  30.0 
 
6 Packaging  
Inorganic foliar fertilizer shall be packaged in materials that ensure the product integrity and quality and 
protect it against physical damage, chemical and moisture contamination.  
7 Weights and measures regulations 
The fill of the package shall comply with the weight and measures regulations  
8 Labelling 
The following information shall be clearly and indelibly marked in English on each package. 
a) name of product as “Inorganic foliar f ertilizer” ; 
b) name, address and physical location of manufacturer/packer/importer; 
c) guaranteed percentage by mass of each of the nutrients;  
d) date of manufacture; 
e) expiry date; 
f) batch/lot number; 
g) the form in which nutrient is present; 
h) Stage of crop growth to be applie d; 
i) name of the chelating material used in case of trace elements; 
j) storage instructions;  
k) the net weight of the fertilizer in the package in metric units; 
l) country of origin; 
m) Instructions for use and 
n) disposal instructions.  PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS 1660: 2017  
4 © UNBS 2017 – All rights reserved  
 9 Sampling 
Sampling shall be done in accordance with ISO 8633 and ISO 8634  
 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS 1660: 2017 
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  5 
 Bibliography 
[1] KS 2228:2015 Foliar fertilizer (inorganic) — Specification 
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 Certification marking 
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standards Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
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