FertChek Proficiency Testing Scheme

PT Scheme Description

The FertChek PT scheme has been designed for laboratories testing for chemical composition and properties of fertilisers most commonly used in Australasian agriculture. FertChek ensures that Australasian fertiliser manufacturers have the opportunity to benchmark themselves within the Australasian fertiliser industry.LabChek works closely with the New Zealand Fertiliser Quality Council by providing data analysis and interpretation which aids in the standardisation of reference methods.    

Schedule

Proficiency materials for the FertChek Program are dispatched every 3 months (refer timetable below). Participants are given 3 weeks to analyse samples and return results.

Materials Description

The following fertiliser materials are currently offered in FertChek:

• Superphosphate
• Potassic Superphosphate
• Sulphur Superphosphate
• Phosphate Rock
• Serpentine Superphosphate
• Lime

Suggestions and requests from participants are welcome.

Analytes

Analytes Include:

• Total Phosphorus
• Citric Acid Soluble Phosphorus
• Ammonium Citrate Soluble Phosphorus
• Moisture
• Cadmium
• Calcium
• Fluoride
• Grist Test
• Mercury
• Lead
• Potassium
• Sulphate Sulphur
• Free Acid (as H3PO4)
• Free Acid (as P)
• Sulphate-Suphur (as S)

Performance Reporting & Evaluation

Statistical summaries and reports are e-mailed to participants within 2 weeks after the due date for results. These provide information about the data pool of participating laboratories, comparing the laboratory's test results with those of other participating laboratories and include:

• An individual rating per sample
• An assessment of bias for the set of results
• An overall rating for the round
• A Youden Plot summarizing the performance of the various labs and a consolidated summary of the individual laboratory results
• A control chart showing performance year to date

Please contact us if you would like to find out more about FertChek, or if you would like to enquire about Fertiliser Reference Materials.

Timetable 2010

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