ISO 10694-1995 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 10694:1995 — Soil quality — Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustion (elementary analysis). Specifies a laboratory method for determining total carbon in air‑dried soil by dry combustion (elementary analysis) and for obtaining organic carbon either directly (after removal of carbonates) or by correcting total carbon for carbonate carbon.

Abstract

This International Standard describes the principle and procedure for measuring total carbon by dry combustion; organic carbon is obtained by subtraction of carbonate carbon or by pre‑removal of carbonates. The method is applicable to all types of air‑dried soil samples and is intended for routine and research soil‑quality analyses.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; life‑cycle entry shows the standard is to be revised).
• Publication date: March 1995 (1995‑03).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.10 (soil quality).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1995).
• Number of pages: 7.

Scope

Defines a dry‑combustion (elemental analysis) procedure for determination of total carbon in soil samples. The standard covers sample preparation (air‑drying, sieving as appropriate), combustion and detection by elemental analyser, treatment or correction for carbonate carbon, calculation of organic carbon, and reporting of results. It is intended for routine soil quality testing across a wide range of soil types.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle: dry combustion (elementary analysis) of soil and quantitative determination of total carbon.
• Treatment for carbonates: options to remove carbonates prior to analysis or to correct total carbon results for carbonate carbon.
• Sample handling: requirements for air‑dried samples and recommended pretreatment to ensure representative results.
• Instrumentation: use of calibrated elemental analysers or combustion systems with appropriate detection (e.g., infrared or thermal conductivity detectors) and calibration procedures.
• Quality control: use of blanks, standards and reference materials, repeatability checks and reporting conventions for results and units.

Typical use and users

Laboratories performing soil chemical analysis (environmental, agricultural and research labs), soil survey organizations, environmental consultants, regulators and academic researchers use this standard to report total and organic carbon in soils for soil quality assessment, carbon accounting, land management and research studies.

Related standards

Standards commonly used alongside or referenced with ISO 10694 include other soil‑quality methods such as ISO 10390 (soil pH), ISO 11465 (dry matter content / moisture determination) and related ISO methods for trace element extraction and reporting. These standards together support comprehensive soil chemical characterisation.

Keywords

soil quality; total carbon; organic carbon; dry combustion; elemental analysis; TOC; carbonate correction; soil analysis; elemental analyser.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10694:1995 is an International Standard that specifies a dry‑combustion (elemental analysis) method for determining total and organic carbon in air‑dried soil samples.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample preparation (air‑drying), the combustion procedure and detection of carbon, options for removing or correcting for carbonates, calculation of organic carbon, quality control measures and result reporting conventions.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental and agricultural testing laboratories, soil survey and research institutions, consultants and regulators who need standardized, comparable measurements of soil carbon.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published in March 1995 (Edition 1). ISO records show it as a published International Standard with a life‑cycle entry indicating it is to be revised (i.e., under review for update). Users should check the latest ISO catalogue or national standards body for any newer replacement or draft updates before relying on it as the most current procedure.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is one of several ISO soil‑quality methods; related standards cover pH, moisture content, trace element extraction and other soil chemical and physical determinations, forming a set of complementary soil quality standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Soil quality, total carbon, organic carbon, dry combustion, elemental analysis, TOC, carbonate correction, soil analysis.