Non Technical Summary
In conjunction with the CT Department of Agricutlure (CT DoAg), the label accuracy and overall safety of commercial and residential fertilzer products is determined. Results are reported to the regulatory agency (CT DoAg), which insures protection of the consuming public from fradulent or dangerous fertilzer formulations. Fertilizer product analysis wasone of the primary analyses of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station in 1875 and the program will continue on past January 2024 in a new project with the same goals and objectives. Products from residential and commercial agricultural operations are included. Fertilizer samples are collected by inspectors from the CT Department of Agriculture (DoAg). Specific year by year data can be found in previous annual reports; during the current period, 41 samples were analyzed for macronutrients, such as nitrogen, total phosphoric acid, and potash, and for secondary and micro nutrients, including but not limited to boron, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Requests for analysis typically include macronutrients, such as nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and potash, and for micronutrients, including but not limited to boron, sulfur, cobalt, magnesium, and iron. Nitrogen is determined on a dedicated LECO FP828 instrument. Micronutrient content is determined by inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) or with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Annually, samples deficient in one or more requested parameters range from 30-70%, as determined according to the investigational allowances outlined in the Official Publication of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials. Analytical results are reported to DoAg, who in turn reports findings to the product dealer and product manufacture

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
102	0110	2000	100%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Goals / Objectives
To analyze commercial fertilizers and assure that products are in compliance with stated label guarantees, thereby offering protection to the consumer. Fertilizers including, N, P, K and other nutrients are delivered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for analysis. There are indications that biosolids presumably containing nutrients will also be analyzed in the future.

Project Methods
Received fertilizer samples will be acid digested and analyzed using inductively couple plasma optical emission spectroscopy. For nitrogen a LECO Combustion analyzer would be used to quantitate total nitrogen in teh fertilizer products