ASTM D5268-13
(Specification)Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping Purposes
Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping Purposes
ABSTRACT
This specification covers the physical evaluation of an inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, relative to its use as topsoil for landscaping and horticultural purposes in construction. Though the presence of the correct nutrients and pH status in the soil is necessary for healthy plant growth, this specification, however, does not address either the determination or the availability of such properties. When physically evaluating soil relative to its suitability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic matter, inorganic matter (sand, silt, and clay), and deleterious materials (rocks, gravel, slag, cinder, roots, and sod). The apparatuses required here are sieves and containers, balances, and a muffle furnace.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 When physically evaluating a soil, relative to its suitability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic matter, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay), and deleterious materials.
4.2 The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of an inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, relative to its use as a topsoil for horticultural purposes in construction. For classification, a full agricultural textural classification may be used.
1.2 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients and pH status is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specification does not, however, cover a determination of the nutrients, nor their availability.2 Note 1—The nutrient content of topsoil is important and the nutrients usually evaluated are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nutrient deficiencies may be corrected using organic or inorganic fertilizers. Excess soluble salts should be examined as to their desirability. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil is also important. Excess acidity may be corrected by the application of lime. Excess alkalinity may be corrected by the application of sulfur or other suitable acidifying compounds. The latter item, in addition to lowering pH, also could be considered as an aggregate when considering the particle size distribution.
1.3 Typical general ranges of soil content are presented in Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a suitable topsoil. It must, however, be recognized that in some geographic regions, concurrence with the values of Table 1 would be most difficult. In such cases, locally acceptable specifications would need to be developed.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:D5268 −13
Standard Specification for
1
Topsoil Used for Landscaping Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5268; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
3
1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of an 2.1 ASTM Standards:
inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
relative to its use as a topsoil for horticultural purposes in Fluids
construction. For classification, a full agricultural textural D1140 Test Methods for Amount of Material in Soils Finer
classification may be used. than No. 200 (75-µm) Sieve
D2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash, and Organic Matter
1.2 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients and pH
of Peat and Other Organic Soils
status is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specification
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
does not, however, cover a determination of the nutrients, nor
2 Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
their availability.
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
NOTE 1—The nutrient content of topsoil is important and the nutrients
D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal-
usually evaluated are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nutrient defi-
ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and
ciencies may be corrected using organic or inorganic fertilizers. Excess
Construction Materials Testing
soluble salts should be examined as to their desirability. The acidity or
D4972 Test Method for pH of Soils
alkalinity of the soil is also important. Excess acidity may be corrected by
the application of lime. Excess alkalinity may be corrected by the
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
application of sulfur or other suitable acidifying compounds. The latter
Data
item, in addition to lowering pH, also could be considered as an aggregate
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
when considering the particle size distribution.
Sieves
1.3 Typical general ranges of soil content are presented in
E145 Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-
Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a
Ventilation Ovens
suitable topsoil. It must, however, be recognized that in some
geographic regions, concurrence with the values of Table 1
3. Terminology
would be most difficult. In such cases, locally acceptable
3.1 Description of Term Specific to This Standard:
specifications would need to be developed.
3.1.1 topsoil—usually the original surface layer of grassland
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
or cultivated land. It does not generally include soil from peat
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
landsorotherspecialareas,suchaslanddisturbedbyindustrial
standard.
activity.Topsoilisusuallyadarkershadeofbrown,grey,orred
than the subsoil that lies immediately beneath it, because it
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
contains organic matter intimately mixed with the mineral
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
matter. Topsoil tends to be more friable and pervious than
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
inorganic soils.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 When physically evaluating a soil, relative to its suit-
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil ability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a
be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic
Medium for Plant Growth.
matter, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay), and deleterious
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2013.PublishedJuly2013.Originallyapproved
materials.
in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D5268 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/
D5268-13.
2
Nutrient testing procedures are found in the state Agricultural Experiment
3
Station recommendations from the state within which the landscape is located: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Black, C.A. (editor-in-Chief), “Methods of SoilAnalysis,” Agronomy No. 9, Vol 2, contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
American Society ofAgronomy, Inc., Madison, WI; and Hesse, P. R., A Textbook of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Soil Chemical Analysis, C
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5268 − 07 D5268 − 13
Standard Specification for
1
Topsoil Used for Landscaping Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5268; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of an inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, relative
to its use as a topsoil for horticultural purposes in construction. For classification, a full agricultural textural classification may be
used.
1.2 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients and pH status is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specification does
2
not, however, cover a determination of the nutrients, nor their availability.
NOTE 1—The nutrient content of topsoil is important and the nutrients usually evaluated are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nutrient deficiencies
may be corrected using organic or inorganic fertilizers. Excess soluble salts should be examined as to their desirability. The acidity or alkalinity of the
soil is also important. Excess acidity may be corrected by the application of lime. Excess alkalinity may be corrected by the application of sulfur or other
suitable acidifying compounds. The latter item, in addition to lowering pH, also could be considered as an aggregate when considering the particle size
distribution.
1.3 Typical general ranges of soil content are presented in Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a
suitable topsoil. It must, however, be recognized that in some geographic regions, concurrence with the values of Table 1 would
be most difficult. In such cases, locally acceptable specifications would need to be developed.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D1140 Test Methods for Amount of Material in Soils Finer than No. 200 (75-μm) Sieve
D2974 Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in
Engineering Design and Construction
D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and Construction
Materials Testing
D4972 Test Method for pH of Soils
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
E145 Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-Ventilation Ovens
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Medium
for Plant Growth.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2007June 1, 2013. Published October 2007July 2013. Originally approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 20022007 as
D5268 – 02.D5268 – 07. DOI: 10.1520/D5268-07.10.1520/D5268-13.
2
Nutrient testing procedures are found in the state Agricultural Experiment Station recommendations from the state within which the landscape is located, “Methods of
Soil Analysis” Editor-in-Chief: C. A. Black, Agronomy No. 9, Vol 2, American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Madison, WI, and Hesse, P. R., A Textbook of Soil Chemical
Analysis , Chemical Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1972.Nutrient testing procedures are found in the state Agricultural Experiment Station recommendations from the state
within which the landscape is located: Black, C. A. (editor-in-Chief), “Methods of Soil Analysis,” Agronomy No. 9, Vol 2, American Society of Agronomy, Inc., Madison,
WI; and Hesse, P. R., A Textbook of Soil Chemical Analysis, Chemical Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1972.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
...
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