Subchapter 1

FERTILIZERSGENERAL

2.1.01
AOAC Official Method 929.01
Sampling of Solid Fertilizers
Final Action 1974

(a) Bagged fertilizers.Use slotted single or double tube trier

with solid cone tip, constructed of stainless steel or brass. (Do not
use unplated brass for samples on which micronutrients are to be
determined.) Trier length, exclusive of handle, should be approximate length of filled bag to be sampled, but >25; length of slot,
>23; width of slot 0.5; and id 58.
Take sample as follows: Lay bag horizontally and remove core
diagonally from end to end. From lots of 10 bags, take core from
each of 10 bags. When necessary to sample lots of <10 bags, take
10 cores but at least 1 core from each bag present.
For small packages ( 10 lb) and rigid containers such as buckets
or boxes (containing 10 and 35 lb), take 1 entire package or

container as sample.
(b) Bulk fertilizers, including railroad car-size lots.Use trier of
design represented in Table 929.01.
Draw 10 vertical cores distributed in standard concentric sampling
pattern (Figure 929.01A) of such design that each core represents
approximately equal fractions of lot.
Bulk shipments may be sampled at time of loading or unloading
by passing sampling cup, Figure 929.01B (mouth dimensions: width
3 , length 16 or as long as maximum diameter of stream), through
4
entire stream of material as it drops from belt or chute. Make
sampling such as to assure 10 equal-timed-spaced passes throughout transfer operation. Stream samples are not applicable unless
uniform continuous flow of fertilizer is maintained for >3 min while
lot is being sampled.
(c) Preparation of sample.Place composite sample in airtight
container and deliver entire sample to laboratory. Reduce composite
sample in laboratory, using riffle.
References: JAOAC 12, 97(1929); 33, 424(1950); 38, 108,
541(1955); 50, 190, 382(1967); 51, 859(1968); 55,
709(1972).

Table 929.01 Trier Specifications

Trier
Missouri
552 Graina
Missouri Db

Length, in.
59
63
49

od, in.
118
134
114

id, in.
7
8
118
1

Compartments
No. Size, in.
8
3
11
312
1
43

Triers available from:

a
Seedboro Equipment Co., 1022 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607.
b
Boyt Tool & Die Co., 917 Maple Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265.

Figure 929.01ASampling pattern

Figure 929.01BSampling cup

1996 AOAC INTERNATIONAL