ASTM D5268-19
(Specification)Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction Purposes
Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction 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.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of a soil containing organic material, relative to its use as a topsoil for vegetative growth purposes in landscaping and construction. For classification, a full agricultural textural classification may be used. Soils being evaluated for use as a topsoil must meet the requirements in Table 1.
1.2 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, moisture content, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay), pH, salt content, cation exchange capacity percentages and deleterious materials.
1.3 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients, salts, and pH is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specification does not cover a determination of the nutrients, nor their availability.
1.4 Typical ranges of topsoil composition are presented in Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a suitable topsoil. Soils being used as a topsoil with organic matter contents between 10 and 90 %, may need to be amended prior to use. It must, however, be recognized that in some geographic regions, achieving the values in Table 1 could be difficult. In such cases, alternative specifications may need to be considered, or an engineered soilamendment meeting the requirements in Table 1 excluding the sand, silt, and clay content as those materials will come from the subsurface soil being amended. When using an engineered soil amendment, the organic matter values need to be >75 % to help rebuild the subsoil layers.
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.
1.6.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in the standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of these test methods to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering data.
1.7 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations is...
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Designation:D5268 −19
Standard Specification for
1
Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction 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* 1.6.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
recorded and calculated in the standard are regarded as the
1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of a soil
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
containing organic material, relative to its use as a topsoil for
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
vegetative growth purposes in landscaping and construction.
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
For classification, a full agricultural textural classification may
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
be used. Soils being evaluated for use as a topsoil must meet
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
the requirements in Table 1.
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
1.2 When physically evaluating a soil, relative to its suit-
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
ability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must
of these test methods to consider significant digits used in
be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic
analysis methods for engineering data.
matter, moisture content, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay),
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
pH, salt content, cation exchange capacity percentages and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
deleterious materials.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.3 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients, salts,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
and pH is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specifica-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion does not cover a determination of the nutrients, nor their
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
availability.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.4 Typical ranges of topsoil composition are presented in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
suitable topsoil. Soils being used as a topsoil with organic
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
mattercontentsbetween10and90 %,mayneedtobeamended
prior to use. It must, however, be recognized that in some
2. Referenced Documents
geographic regions, achieving the values in Table 1 could be
2
difficult. In such cases, alternative specifications may need to 2.1 ASTM Standards:
be considered, or an engineered soilamendment meeting the D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
requirements in Table 1 excluding the sand, silt, and clay Fluids
content as those materials will come from the subsurface soil D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
being amended. When using an engineered soil amendment, (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
the organic matter values need to be >75 % to help rebuild the D2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash, and Organic Matter
subsoil layers. of Peat and Other Organic Soils
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
standard.
D4972 Test Methods for pH of Soils
1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Data
Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.
D6913/D6913M Test Methods for Particle-Size Distribution
(Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis
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 Media for
2
Plant Growth. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published December 2019. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5268 – 13. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standar
...
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 − 13 D5268 − 19
Standard Specification for
1
Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction 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 a soil containing a limited amount of organic material,
relative to its use as a topsoil for horticultural vegetative growth purposes in landscaping and construction. For classification, a full
agricultural textural classification may be used. Soils being evaluated for use as a topsoil must meet the requirements in Table 1.
1.2 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, moisture content, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay), pH, salt
content, cation exchange capacity percentages and deleterious materials.
1.3 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients nutrients, salts, and pH status is necessary for healthy plant growth. This
specification does not, however, not 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.
1.4 Typical general ranges of soil contenttopsoil composition are presented in Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will
generally form a suitable topsoil. Soils being used as a topsoil with organic matter contents between 10 and 90 %, may need to
be amended prior to use. It must, however, be recognized that in some geographic regions, concurrence with achieving the values
ofin Table 1 wouldcould be most difficult. In such cases, locally acceptable alternative specifications wouldmay need to be
developed.considered, or an engineered soilamendment meeting the requirements in Table 1 excluding the sand, silt, and clay
content as those materials will come from the subsurface soil being amended. When using an engineered soil amendment, the
organic matter values need to be >75 % to help rebuild the subsoil layers.
1.5 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026, unless superseded by this test method.
1.6.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in the standard are regarded as the industry
standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not
consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives;
and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations.
It is beyond the scope of these test methods to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering data.
1.7 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18
...
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