1. LEGAL AUTHORITY Title 35, Article 12, Colorado revised statutes 1973, as amended.

2. DEFINITIONS:

2.1 Except as the commissioner designates otherwise in specific cases, the names and definitions for commercial fertilizers, soil conditioners, plant amendments and agricultural liming materials shall be those adopted by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO).

2.2 Percentages-The term of “percentage” by symbol or word, when used on a fertilizer, soil conditioners, plant amendments and agricultural liming materials label shall represent only the amount of individual plant nutrients or other factors in relation to the total product by weight.

2.3 Fertilizer-The terms “fertilizer”, “plant food”, “plant nutrients”, and similar words are synonymous.

2.4 Soil Conditioner-Soil conditioner is synonymous with soil additive, soil amendment, biological culture, biological nutrient, compaction agent, soil setting agent, soil penetration agent, exchangeable ion source, and other similar terms, and includes calcium sulfate type products.

2.5 “Plant amendments” means any device or substance applied to the soil, plants, or seeds which is intended to improve germination, growth, yield, product quality, reproduction, flavor, or other desirable characteristics of plants, except commercial fertilizers, soil amendments, agricultural liming materials, animal and vegetable manures, pesticides, plant regulators, and other materials which may be exempted by regulations promulgated by the commissioner.

2.6 “Calcium sulfate type products” such as gypsum, landplaster, anhydrite or crude calcium sulfate are products consisting of calcium sulfate with or without combined water and are incapable of neutralizing soil acidity.

2.7 “Foliar” means leaf, leaves and other aerial parts of vegetation. Foliage application means the method of applying a fertilizer or plant amendment to the leaf area or other aerial parts of the plant.

3. SPECIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE REGULATIONS

3.1 Plant Nutrients in addition to Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium-

1. (a) Other plant nutrients, when mentioned in any form or manner, shall be registered and shall be guaranteed only on an available elemental basis. Sources of the elements guaranteed and proof of availability shall be provided the commissioner upon request. The minimum percentages which will be accepted for registration are as follows: Element % Calcium 1.00 Magnesium (Mg) 0.50 Sulfur (S) 1.00 Boron (B) 0.02 Copper (Cu) 0.05 Iron (Fe) 0.10 Manganese (Mn) 0.05 Molybdenum (Mo) 0.0005 Zinc (Zn) 0.05 Any of the above-listed elements which are guaranteed shall appear in the order listed, immediately following guarantees for the primary nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
   1. (b) In determining the percentages of the above-listed plant nutrients in a product the analytical methods contained in Section 3.6 and 3.7 shall be used. Only that portion of the above- listed plant nutrients so determined may be listed on the labeling.
   2. (c) Guarantees or claims for the above-listed plant nutrients are the only ones which will be accepted except that specialty fertilizer guarantees may include other nutrients, recognized by the Association of Plant Food Control Officials, Proposed labels and directions for use of the fertilizer shall be furnished with the application for registration upon request. Any of the above-listed elements, which are guaranteed, shall appear in the order listed, immediately following guarantees for the primary nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
   3. (d) A warning or caution statement is required on the label for any product which contains 0.03% or more of boron in a water soluble form. This statement shall carry the word “WARNING” or “CAUTION” conspicuously displayed, shall state the crop(s) for which the fertilizer is to be used, and state that the use of the fertilizer on any other than those recommended may result in serious injury to the crop(s).
   4. (e) Products containing 0.001% or more of molybdenum also require a warning statement on the label. This shall include the word “WARNING” or “CAUTION” and the statement that the application of fertilizers containing molybdenum may result in forage crops containing levels of molybdenum which are toxic to ruminant animals. Examples of Warning or Caution Statement:
      1. Boron;
         1. 1. Directions: Apply this fertilizer at a maximum rate of 350 pounds per acre for alfalfa or red clover seed production.
         2. 2. CAUTION: Apply this fertilizer at a maximum rate of 700 pounds per acre for alfalfa or red clover seed production. Do not use on other crops; the boron may cause serious injury to them.
         3. 3. WARNING: This fertilizer carries added Borax and is intended for use only on alfalfa. Its use on any other crops or under conditions other than those recommended may result in serious injury to crops.

         Molybdenum;

         1. 1. CAUTION: This fertilizer is to be used on soil which responds to molybdenum. Crops high in molybdenum are toxic to grazing animals (ruminants).
   5. (f) All products claimed or labeled as chelated or similar terms must be determinable by analytical methods approved by the commissioner.

3.2 Specialty Fertilizer Labels-The following information, if not appearing on the face or display side in a readable and conspicuous form, shall occupy at least the upper third of the container and shall be considered the label. All required information shall be in a readable and conspicuous form. Net Weight

1. (a) Brand Name (b) Grade (c) Guaranteed Analysis:
   1. Total Nitrogen (N)
      1. ____________________ ____% _____________% ** Ammoniacal Nitrogen ______________% ** Nitrate Nitrogen ______________% Water * Insoluble Nitrogen Available Phosphoric Acid (P205) --------------- % Soluble Potash (K20)________________ __________%
2. (d) Additional Plant Nutrients as prescribed by regulation.
   1. ** Potential Acidity or Basicity __1bs. of Calcium Carbonate Equivalent per ton.
      1. Name and address of registrant.

*If claimed or the statement “organic” or “slow acting nitrogen” or similar terms are used on the label. **If claimed.

Notes:*If claimed or the statement "organic" or "slow acting nitrogen" or similar terms are used on the label.**If claimed.

3.3 Soil Conditioner and Plant Amendment Labels-The following information, if not appearing on the face or display side in a readable and conspicuous form, shall occupy at least the upper third of the container and shall be considered the label. All required information shall be in a readable and conspicuous form.

1. (a) Net Weight (b) Brand Name (c) Guaranteed AnalysisSoil conditioning and/or plant amending ingredients.Name of Ingredients - %and continued until all conditioning and amending ingredientsare listed and percentages given.
   1. (d) Total percent of other ingredients.
   2. (e) The name of each separate product contained in the soil conditioner or plant amendment, as defined by the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials. If no definition exists, the common or usual name shall be used.
   3. (f) Purpose of product.
   4. (g) Directions for application.
   5. (h) Name and address of the registrant.

3.4 Slowly Available Plant Nutrients

1. (a) No fertilizer label shall bear a statement that connotes or infers the presence of a slowly available plant nutrient unless the nutrient or nutrients are identified.
   1. (b) When a fertilizer label infers or connotes that the nitrogen is slowly available through use of organic, organic nitrogen, ureaform, long lasting or similar terms, the guaranteed analysis must indicate the percentage of water insoluble nitrogen in the material, except manipulated animal and vegetable manures distributed as such and not mixed with other materials. When the water insoluble nitrogen is less than 15% of the total nitrogen, the label shall bear no reference to such designations, (c) To supplement (b), it should be established that if a label states the amount of organic nitrogen present in a phrase, such as “25% of the nitrogen from ureaformaldehyde (ureaform),” then the water insoluble nitrogen guaranteed must be not less than 60% of the nitrogen so designated.

      Example: 10-6-4 Rose Food25% of nitrogen is organic 10 (total N guaranteed) X.25 (% N claimed as organic) X.60 =1.5% water insoluble nitrogen.

   2. (d) The term “Coated-Slow Release Fertilizer”, or Coated-Slow Release" be accepted as descriptive of products.
   3. (e) Further, the above phrases (d) be allowed for any products that can show a testing program substantiating the claim. (Testing under guidance of experiment station personnel, or a recognized reputable researcher, etc. acceptable to the commissioner). Water insoluble nitrogen must be guaranteed at 15% of the total nitrogen level as in organic materials.
   4. (f) AOAC Method 2.064, 12th Edition, or as it shall be designated in subsequent AOAC Editions, is to be used to confirm the water insoluble nitrogen of coated products and others whose slow release characteristics depend on particle size. AOAC Method 2.062 (12th Edition) shall be used to determine the water insoluble nitrogen of other products applicable for these procedures.

3.5 Investigational Allowances

1. (a) A commercial fertilizer shall be deemed deficient if the analysis of any nutrient is below the guarantee by an amount exceeding the values in the following schedule, or if the overall index value of the fertilizer is below 98%:

   Guarantee percent Nitrogen percent Available Phosphoric acid Potash percent percent 4 or less 0.49 0.67 0.41 5 0.51 0.67 0.43 6 0.52 0.67 0.47 7 0.54 0.68 0.53 8 0.55 0.68 0.60 9 0.57 0.68 0.65 10 0.58 0.69 0.70 12 0.61 0.69 0.79 14 0.63 0.70 0.87 16 0.67 0.70 0.94 18 0.70 0.71 1.01 20 0.73 0.72 1.08 22 0.75 0.72 1.15 24 0.78 0.73 1.21 26 0.81 0.73 1.27 28 0.83 0.74 1.33 30 0.86 0.75 1.39 32 or more 0.88 0.76 1.44 For guarantees not listed, calculate the appropriate value by Interpolation.

   1. (b) Other elements shall be deemed deficient if any element is below the guarantee by an amount exceeding the values in the following schedule:

   ELEMENT GUARANTEE ALLOWABLE DEFICIENCY Calcium and Sulfur 1% and up 0.2 units + 5% of guarantee Magnesium 0.5% and up 0.2 units + 5% of guarantee Boron .02% to 5% .003 units + 15% of guarantee 5.0% and up Potash Schedule 3.5 (a)

   Cobalt and Molybdenum .0005% to 1.0% .0001 units + 30% of guarantee 1.0% to 4.0% .2 units + 10% of guarantee 4.1% and up Potash schedule 3.5 (a)

   Chlorine, Iron & Sodium 0.1% to 4.0% .005 units + 10% of guarantee 4.1% and up Potash Schedule 3.5 (a)

   Copper, Manganese, & .05% to 4.0% .005 units + Zinc 4.1% and up Potash Schedule 3.5 (a)

   1. (c) The overall index value is calculated by comparing the commercial value guaranteed with the commercial value found. Unit values of the nutrients used shall be those referred to in section 35-12-110 of Title 35, Article 12, Colorado Revised Statutes 1973, as amended. Overall index value-example of calculation for a 10-10-10 grade found to contain 10.1% total nitrogen (N), 10.2% available phosphoric acid (P 0 ), and 10.1% soluble potash 2 5 (K 0) Nutrient unit values are assumed to be $3.00 per unit N, $2.00 per unit P 0 and 2 2 5 $1.00 per unit K 0.
2. 10.0 units N X 3 = 30.0
3. 10.0 units P205 X 2 = 20.0
4. 10.0 units K20 X 1 = 10.0

   Commercial value guarantee = 60.0

5. 10.0 units N X 3 = 30.3
6. 10.2 units P205 X 2 = 20.4
7. 10.1 units K20 X 1 = 10.1

   Commercial value found = 60.8 Overall index value 60.8/60.0 X 100=101.3%

   1. (d) Soil conditioner ingredients, plant amending ingredients and agricultural liming materials shall be deemed deficient if found below an amount exceeding 0.2 unit -f 5% of the guarantee.
   2. (e) The above tolerances listed in (a) and (b) are for single samples run in duplicate, additional analysis and/or additional samples will lower tolerances.

3.6 Availability of Essential Plant Nutrients -- Availability means the chemical form of the essential plant nutrient present in commercial fertilizer.

The availability of copper, iron, manganese, zinc and cobalt is only that which is in the Na2 EDTA soluble form as shown in Regulation 3.7 (c), or that which is in the water soluble form as shown in Regulation 3.7 (d), whichever is higher. The availability of sulfur, other than elemental free sulfur, is only that which is in the water soluble form, as shown in Regulation 3.7 (d). Availability of elemental free sulfur is total and is determined by AOAC 2.129, 12th edition: “Free elemental sulfur Extract 1 gram sample with carbon disulfide in soxhlet apparatus letting extraction thimble drain at least 12 times, etc.” Availability of sodium, chlorine, molybdenum and boron is that which is water soluble JAOAC _58 383 (1975) 2.098e (1).

3.7 Analytical Methods

1. (a) Total Phosphorous AOAC Method 2.020 (a) (12th edition) for extraction: “Dissolve in 30 ml HN03 and 3-5 ml HC1, and boil until organic matter is destroyed (30 min. for liquids and suspensions).” (b) Available Phosphorous AOAC methods 2.040 or 2.042 shall be used to determine available phosphorous.
   1. (c) Disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid solubility of copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and cobalt JAOAC 58 383 (1975) 2.098 e (2).
   2. (d) Water extraction-soluble K?0. sodium, chlorine, molybdenum boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, cobalt and sulfur.
      1. AOAC method JAOAC 2.098 (e) (1) place 1.00 gm. of material in 250 ml. beaker, add 75 ml H20 and boil for 30 minutes. Filter into 100 ml. volumetric flask and wash paper with 1^0 dilute to volume -etc.
   3. (e) Calcium and Magnesium and Sulfur in Gypsum AOAC 2.020 (b) (12th edition): “Dissolve 1 gram sample in 15-30 ml. hydrochloric acid and 3-10 ml. nitric acid”.

3.9 Minimum Plant Nutrients of Fertilizer -- Commercial fertilizer sold for agricultural use on the soil, primarily for the N - P2O3 -K2O nutrients shall contain a minimum total of 20 units of N - P2O5 - K2O. The remaining essential nutrient declared shall conform with Regulation 3.1. A fertilizer may be exempted from the 20 unit minimum N - P2O5 - K2O requirement, if the commissioner after he has been petitioned for such an exemption on a product, finds such an exemption to be in the best interest of the state.

Commercial fertilizer sold for use on the soil, for essential EDTA soluble nutrients Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Co shall contain not less than 5Z of a single available EDTA soluble nutrient, or not less than 9% of a combination of two or more.

Commercial fertilizers and agricultural liming materials sold primarily for their magnesium shall have the following minimum magnesium content. Chelated magnesium fertilizer shall contain a minimum of 5% magnesium. Magnesium products sold for agricultural use which are not magnesium chelated-type products shall contain a minimum of 102 magnesium, A fertilizer sold primarily for its magnesium content may be exempted from the minimum requirement if the commissioner after he has been petitioned for such an exemption on a product finds such an exemption to be in the best interest of the state. Commercial fertilizer sold for essential EDTA soluble nutrients Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Co either in a chelate form, or only for foliar application may be exempted from the minimum requirements if the commissioner, after he has been petitioned for such an exemption on a product, finds such an exemption to be in the best interest of the state.

Before registration of a fertilizer for foliar use the commissioner may require proof of effectiveness and proof of labeling claims as provided for in the law (Title 35-12-104 (4).

3.10 Minimum Calcium and Magnesium of Agricultural Liming Material and Labeling. -- Agricultural liming material sold for use for neutralizing soil acidity or sources of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate shall contain a calcium carbonate equivalent as shown in Table I: TABLE I. AGRICULTURAL LIMING MATERIALS MATERIAL CALCIUM CARBONATE EQUIVALENT (C.C.E.)

1. PERCENT Burnt Lime not less than 140 Hydrated Lime not less than 110 Limestone not less than 80 Slag not less than 80 Shells not less than 80 The label shall declare in a type size equal to the largest used on the labeling the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials name that applies to the product. The label shall also indicate the use for which the product is intended. The calcium and/or magnesium shall be guaranteed on the elemental basis.

3.11 Labeling of Calcium Sulfate Type Products -- Calcium sulfate type products are soil conditioners. No calcium sulfate type products can be registered or sold unless they conform to the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials definitions relating to the products. The label shall declare in the type size equal to the largest used on the labeling the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials name that applies to the product. The label shall indicate the use for which the product is intended and shall contain adequate application instructions. The label shall guarantee the gypsum equivalent (Ca 804.2 H20) in addition to the calcium and sulfur guarantees.

A calcium sulfate type product may be exempted from Regulation 3.11 if the commissioner after he has been petitioned for such an exemption on a product finds such an exemption to be in the best interest of the state.

3.12 Chemical Elements or other Materials that are net Essential Plant Nutrients -- are not to be listed or guaranteed in or on labels or labeling without permission of the commissioner.

3.13 Agricultural Liming Materials Standards

All agricultural lining materials distributed in the state shall be crushed or ground to a fineness such that 90% of the material will pass an 8 mesh screen, not less than 50% will pass a 60 mesh screen, and not less than 25% shall pass a 100 mesh screen. Limestone and ground shells used as agricultural liming materials shall (a) have not less than 80% calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) (b) and an effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) determined as follows: (% passing 8 mesh screen X 0.3 + % passing 60 mesh screen X 0.6 + % passing 100 mesh screen) X % calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) 4 100, of not less than 70%.

3.14 Labeling of Agricultural Liming Materials

Agricultural liming materials shall be labeled to show in addition to the requirements set forth in the Commercial Fertilizer, Soil Conditioner, Plant Amendment, and Agricultural Liming Materials Act of 1977, Title 35, Article 12, Section 105(7) & (8) & (9); the fineness showing the minimum percentage passing 8 mesh, 60 mesh and 100 mesh sieves and the minimum effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) guarantee.