Soil and Plant Amendments

Soil Amendments

Soil Amendment is any substance which is intended to change the chemical or physical characteristics of soil. This does not include fertilizers, ag liming materials, pesticides and unmanipulated animal/vegetable manures. Soil amendment's basic claims are to improve:

"Organic Matter" products can be comprised of sphagnum peat moss; composted yard waste, food, and manures; or worm castings. Many are sold with no conditioning claims and are not regulated as soil amendments. 

Other soil amendments ingredients can include organic acids: humic acid and fluvic acid; compost tea; water holding crystals (Soil Moist); mycorrhizae, bacteria (microbes); or wetting agents. 

Plant Amendments

Plant amendment is any substance applied to plants or seeds which is intended to improve germination, growth, yield, quality, reproduction, flavor or other desirable characteristics. This does not include fertilizer, ag liming materials, pesticides, unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures. Plant amendment claims to improve:

• Seed germination
• Root development
• Resistance to drought, stress
• Leaf growth
• Fruit set
• Flavor of fruit/vegetable
• Nutrient uptake

Plant amendment products include plant-based extracts, enzymes, vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and mycorrhizae bacteria. Their ingredients can include: Vitamin B1 and vitamin C; Amino Acids - tryptophan, arginine, leucine, glycine; bacteria (microbes); kelp extract; and seaweed extract (*Plant hormones can be pesticides or plant growth regulators [PGR]).

Labeling requirements include: 

• Brand name
• Active ingredients- Name and percentage of amending ingredients
• Total percentage of other ingredients
• Purpose of the product
• Directions for application
• Name/address of guarantor
• Net weight
  
  

Guaranteed Analysis

A guaranteed analysis is required for active ingredients. For example, the guaranteed analysis might look like this:

Regulatory Oversight

Soil and/or plant amendments are required to be registered by brand name annually. The registration fee is $25 per product. A label must be submitted for review. 

Total sales of registered product(s) must be reported. These are known as tonnage reports. Small packages (under 15 lbs) are reported once annually. Large packages are reported twice annually. 

Dual Purpose Products are products that are labeled as specialty fertilizers AND soil/plant amendments. They must comply with BOTH the fertilizer and the soil/plant amendment requirements. Additionally, they must be registered under both programs.

Soil Amendment Registration Application Instructions

Please read the following directions before preparing your application for renewal of Soil Amendment (SA) or Plant Amendment (PA) Registrations.  Errors which may require you to re-submit your application can be avoided by carefully reading and complying with these directions.   If you have any questions preparing your application for renewal, please contact the Program Contact, at 717-772-5126.

Fee - The annual fee for registration per product is $25.

Registration Period - The SA and PA registration period is July 1 to June 30 of the current year.

Directions for Renewal

Please review the list of products currently registered.  If there are no additional, or changes, print "no changes" on the list of products.  If you have changes or additions go to step 2, otherwise go to step 3.

1. (Rev.2/09) is for use to register additional products, or make product changes only. Photocopies of this form are acceptable.

2. Sign and print, or type, Title, Date, and Address - These sections must be completed by the company representative responsible for the registration of SA's or PA's.

3. Complete labels or photocopies of complete labels must be submitted for each product.

4. Fee - A check or money order payable to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" for the registration of SA and PA in the correct amount must be returned with the application.  A check for payment of a combination of fees other than for registration of SA's and PA's will be returned.