ASTM D2944-22

Standard Practice of Sampling Processed Peat Materials for Horticultural Purposes

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice is primarily used in the horticulture industry to collect a representative sample of processed peat materials. The representative sample can then be used for further testing including, but not limited to, the determination of moisture, ash, and organic matter; volume; pH;, moisture-holding capacity, and air capacity of water-saturated peat materials; total nitrogen; particle size distribution; and sand content of processed peat materials.
Note 1: 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 practice covers the procedure for obtaining a representative sample of processed peat material from compressed bales or bulk loose material sources. This procedure is applicable for sampling peat materials for horticultural purposes and produces a sample that is representative of peat materials that may be heterogeneous in nature. Producing a representative sample of a material is central to the validity of the results for any testing or analytical procedure which can be used to verify the grade of peat.  
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall confirm to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.  
1.3.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this 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 this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.  
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word ”Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved though the ASTM consensus process.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2022
• ICS: 75.160.10 - Solid fuels
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.22 - Media for Plant Growth

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: D2944 − 22
Standard Practice of
Sampling Processed Peat Materials for Horticultural
1
Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2944; 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* a project’s many unique aspects. The word ”Standard” in the
title of this document means only that the document has been
1.1 This practice covers the procedure for obtaining a
approved though the ASTM consensus process.
representative sample of processed peat material from com-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
pressed bales or bulk loose material sources. This procedure is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
applicable for sampling peat materials for horticultural pur-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
poses and produces a sample that is representative of peat
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
materials that may be heterogeneous in nature. Producing a
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
representative sample of a material is central to the validity of
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
the results for any testing or analytical procedure which can be
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
used to verify the grade of peat.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
for information only and are not considered standard.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall confirm to the
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in 2. Referenced Documents
Practice D6026. 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the
Fluids
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal-
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
Construction Materials Testing
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Re-
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
cords in Geotechnical Data
methods for engineering design.
3. Terminology
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
3.1 Definitions:
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms used in this
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
4. Summary of Practice
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
4.1 Forcompressedpeatbales,aslottedtubecorerisusedat
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
multiple locations to obtain subsamples of material. For bulk
stockpiles, a shovel is used at multiple locations to obtain
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Media for Plant
2
Growth. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2022. Published May 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1971. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D2944 – 14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D2944-22. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end o
...

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: D2944 − 14 D2944 − 22
Standard Practice of
Sampling Processed Peat Materials for Horticultural
1
Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2944; 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 practice the covers the procedure for obtaining samples for use in the determination of moisture, ash, and organic matter;
volume; pH; volume weights, water-holding capacity, and air capacity of water-saturated peat materials; total nitrogen; particle size
range; and sand content of processed peat materials. a representative sample of processed peat material from compressed bales or
bulk loose material sources. This procedure is validapplicable for sampling peat materials for horticultural purposes and produces
a sample that is representative of a material.peat materials that may be heterogeneous in nature. Producing a representative sample
of a material is central to the validity of the results for any testing or analytical procedure which can be used to verify the grade
of peat.
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The inch-pound unitsvalues given in parentheses are
provided for information only.only and are not considered standard.
1.3 All observed and calculated values shall confirm to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026.
1.3.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this 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 this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be
applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s
many unique aspects. The word ”Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved though
the ASTM consensus process.
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1
This practice 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 Media
for Plant Growth.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014May 1, 2022. Published November 2014May 2022. Originally approved in 1971. Last previous edition approved in 20132014 as
D2944 – 13.D2944 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/D2944-14.10.1520/D2944-22.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D2944 − 22
1.6 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
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
...