Ammonium Nitrogen: Means ammonia nitrogen plus ammonium nitrogen.

Analytical Run: A group of samples processed together through each step of an analytical procedure.

Analytical Standard: A series of chemical standards of the target analytes, used to set the relationship between instrument response and concentration

Blank, Method Blank: Pure Water or other type of blank (i.e., acid or solvent) used to monitor for contaminated reagents, glassware and method processes.

Certified reference material (CRM) - reference material, accompanied by documentation issued by an authoritative body and providing one or more specified property values with associated uncertainties and traceability, using valid procedures.

Composite Sample: A sample that is made up of a number of sub-samples that have been thoroughly mixed together.

Duplicate Sample: One of two samples collected at a sampling point at the same time in a manner that minimizes differences between the samples.

Geo-Reference: A specific set of coordinates within a numeric system of grid references (e.g., latitude/longitude or UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)) used to precisely identify a geographic location.

Global Positioning System: Method of determining geo-reference using a GPS receiver.

Grab Sample: A single sample taken directly from the material being sampled, sub sample or a portion of a composite sample.

Internal Standard: A compound, representative of the compound(s) of interest and not expected to be found in the matrix, spiked into every sample extract and solution analyzed. It monitors losses/gains due to the analytical procedure. Data may or may not be corrected based on the calculated recovery.

Matrix: Any type of material, e.g., soil, manure, sewage sludge.

Matrix Check Material: Matrix check materials are, typically, natural materials subjected to method processes in order to monitor method recovery. They are often in-house sample composites that have an established value and characteristics

NMAN: A computer program of that name prepared by OMAFRA for the purpose of preparing nutrient management plans, as well as the workbook that can be used to prepare plans manually.

Nitrate Nitrogen: Means nitrate nitrogen plus nitrite nitrogen.

Nutrient: means fertilizers, organic materials, biosolids, compost, manure, septage, pulp and paper sludge and other material applied to land for the purpose of improving the growing of agricultural crops or for the purpose of improving the growing of agricultural crops or for the purpose of a prescribed use, but does not include any material that the regulations specify does not come within the definition of “nutrient”.

Nutrient Management Plan: A plan for the application of materials containing nutrients to land in such a way that agronomic requirements of crops are met, and environmental impacts are minimized.

Nutrient Unit: The amount of nutrients that give the fertilizer replacement value of the lower of 43 kilograms of nitrogen or 55 kilograms of phosphate as nutrient as established by reference to the Nutrient Management Protocol.

Quality Management System: A set of interrelated elements (e.g., policies and objectives) that direct and control the way a facility operates with regard to quality.

Reference material (RM) - material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with reference to specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in measurement or in examination of nominal properties.

Replicate Analyses: Natural samples may be split in the laboratory and analyzed together in the same run. Replicates are taken through the entire method process. This data can be used to assess the within-run precision of the analysis or sample matrix homogeneity.

Replicate Sample: An additional or second aliquot (portion) of a randomly selected sample in the analytical run.

Representative Sample: A sample of material that has been taken so that it has essentially the same composition and characteristics of the source material.

Spiked Samples: Analyte(s) of interest is spiked into the sample matrix in order to monitor recovery from the sample matrix using the method or parts of the method.

Spiked Water/Solvent: Analyte(s) of interest is spiked into reagent water/solvent to monitor recovery because of changes in the method or parts of the method.

Standard Additions: The addition of known quantities of the analyte of interest to one or more split portions of a single sample can be used to determine the presence and possible effect of interference by various matrix constituents on the analytical method.

Sub-sample: A single sample taken directly from the material being sampled or a portion of a composite sample.