ASTM D5715-14

Standard Practice for Estimating the Degree of Humification of Peat and Other Organic Soils (Visual/Manual Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The purpose of this practice is to standardize the routine description of peat and other organic soils for various uses (such as, peatland inventories and resource evaluations). This practice should be used to supplement other field information, such as, site location, surface morphology, surface vegetation, water table, moisture content, fiber content, wood content, and visually identifiable plant types and parts.
Note 1: This standard is a visual/manual method and is not meant to replace the more precise method of laboratory classification of peat (see Classification D4427). It should also be noted, this practice is independent of the determination of whether a particluar deposit contains peat that is defined in Classification D4427 on the basis of laboratory determination of ash content (see Test Method D2974).
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the visual determination of the degree of humification of peat and other highly organic soils. This practice is not used for the determination of the degree of organic decomposition of organic matter in mineral soils.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2014
• ICS: 13.080.40 - Hydrological properties of soils
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.22 - Media for Plant Growth

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5715 − 14
Standard Practice for
Estimating the Degree of Humification of Peat and Other
1
Organic Soils (Visual/Manual Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5715; 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* 3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms in this
practice, refer to Terminology D653.
1.1 This practice covers the visual determination of the
degree of humification of peat and other highly organic soils. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
This practice is not used for the determination of the degree of 3.2.1 degree of humification—as defined by this practice,
organic decomposition of organic matter in mineral soils. degree of humification refers to any one of ten categories
(indicated by the letter “H”), with H1 being the least decom-
1.2 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
posed and H10 being the most decomposed. This terminology
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
actually refers to the present visual composition of the peat and
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
highly organic soils.
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
3.2.2 organic soils—soil with a high content of carbon-
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
based compounds. In general, organic soils are very compress-
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
ible and have poor load sustaining properties.
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
3.2.3 peat—a naturally-occurring highly organic substance
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
derived primarily from plant materials. Peat is distinguished
title of this document means only that the document has been
from other organic soil materials by its lower ash content (less
approved though the ASTM consensus process.
than 25 % ash by dry mass-see Practice D2974) and from other
phytogenic material of higher rank (that is, lignite coal) by its
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
lower calorific value on a water saturated basis.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4. Significance and Use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.1 The purpose of this practice is to standardize the routine
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
description of peat and other organic soils for various uses
2. Referenced Documents
(such as, peatland inventories and resource evaluations). This
2
practice should be used to supplement other field information,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
such as, site location, surface morphology, surface vegetation,
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
water table, moisture content, fiber content, wood content, and
Fluids
visually identifiable plant types and parts.
D2944 Practice of Sampling Processed Peat Materials
D2974 Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter
NOTE 1—This standard is a visual/manual method and is not meant to
of Peat and Other Organic Soils replace the more precise method of laboratory classification of peat (see
Classification D4427). It should also be noted, this practice is independent
D4427 Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
of the determination of whether a particluar deposit contains peat that is
defined in Classification D4427 on the basis of laboratory determination of
3. Terminology
ash content (see Test Method D2974).
3.1 Definitions:
5. Sample
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and 5.1 The sample used for this practice can be collected using
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Medium
piston coring devices or simply as a grab sample (that is, by
for Plant Growth.
hand) or a block sample by any of a number of means as long
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014. Published November 2014. Originally
as it still retains its original in-situ composition (that is,
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D5715 – 00(2006).
DOI: 10.1520/D57150-14.
moisture as well as solid components).
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
NOTE 2—In practice, the sample is collected using a field reconnais-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
sance peat sampler; but it may be collected by a more sophisticated piston
...

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: D5715 − 00 (Reapproved 2006) D5715 − 14
Standard Test Method Practice for
Estimating the Degree of Humification of Peat and Other
1
Organic Soils (Visual/Manual Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5715; 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 test method covers a system for visually discriminating peat and other highly organic soils on the basis of degree of
humification.
1.2 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
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
D4427 Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For common definitions of terms in this test method, refer to Terminology D653.
3.1.2 degree of humification—as defined by this test method refers to any one of ten categories (indicated by the letter “H”),
with H1 being the least humified and H10 being the most humified. In general, the term humification relates to the degree of
biochemical decomposition of original starting plant components. However, this terminology actually refers to the present visual
composition of the peat and highly organic soils regardless of the genesis of this composition.
3.1.3 organic soils—soil with a high organic content. In general, organic soils are very compressible and have poor load
sustaining properties.
3.1.4 peat—a naturally-occurring highly organic substance derived primarily from plant materials. Peat is distinguished from
other organic soil materials by its lower ash content (less than 25 % ash by dry mass-see Test Method D2974) and from other
phytogenic material of higher rank (that is, lignite coal) by its lower calorific value on a water saturated basis.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this test method is to standardize the routine description of peat and other organic soils for various uses (such
as, peatland inventories and resource evaluations). This test method is a modified version of a widely used system originally
3
developed by L. von Post. This test method should be used to supplement other field information, such as, site location, surface
morphology, surface vegetation, water table, moisture content, fiber content, wood content, and visually identifiable plant types and
parts.
1
This test method 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 Nov. 1, 2006Nov. 1, 2014. Published December 2006November 2014. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20002006
as D5715 – 00.D5715 – 00(2006). DOI: 10.1520/D5715-00R06.10.1520/D57150-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*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
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D5715 − 14
4.2 It should be stressed that this is a visual/manual method and is not meant to replace the more precise method of laboratory
classification of peat (see Classification D4427). It should also be noted that this test method is independent of the determination
of whether a particular deposit contains peat that is defined in Classification D4427 on the basis of laboratory determination of ash
content (see Test Method D2974).
NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this test method is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of
the equipment and facilities used. Agen
...