ASTM_D_5268_-_13.pdf

Designation:D526813Standard Specification forTopsoil Used for Landscaping Purposes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5268;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of aninorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material,relative to its use as a topsoil for horticultural purposes inconstruction.For classification,a full agricultural texturalclassification may be used.1.2 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients and pHstatus is necessary for healthy plant growth.This specificationdoes not,however,cover a determination of the nutrients,northeir availability.2NOTE1The nutrient content of topsoil is important and the nutrientsusually evaluated are nitrogen,phosphate,and potassium.Nutrient defi-ciencies may be corrected using organic or inorganic fertilizers.Excesssoluble salts should be examined as to their desirability.The acidity oralkalinity of the soil is also important.Excess acidity may be corrected bythe application of lime.Excess alkalinity may be corrected by theapplication of sulfur or other suitable acidifying compounds.The latteritem,in addition to lowering pH,also could be considered as an aggregatewhen considering the particle size distribution.1.3 Typical general ranges of soil content are presented inTable 1.Soils falling within these ranges will generally form asuitable topsoil.It must,however,be recognized that in somegeographic regions,concurrence with the values of Table 1would be most difficult.In such cases,locally acceptablespecifications would need to be developed.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD1140 Test Methods for Amount of Material in Soils Finerthan No.200(75-m)SieveD2974 Test Methods for Moisture,Ash,and Organic Matterof Peat and Other Organic SoilsD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD4753 Guide for Evaluating,Selecting,and Specifying Bal-ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil,Rock,andConstruction Materials TestingD4972 Test Method for pH of SoilsD6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in GeotechnicalDataE11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSievesE145 Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-Ventilation Ovens3.Terminology3.1 Description of Term Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 topsoilusually the original surface layer of grasslandor cultivated land.It does not generally include soil from peatlands or other special areas,such as land disturbed by industrialactivity.Topsoil is usually a darker shade of brown,grey,or redthan the subsoil that lies immediately beneath it,because itcontains organic matter intimately mixed with the mineralmatter.Topsoil tends to be more friable and pervious thaninorganic soils.4.Significance and Use4.1 When physically evaluating a soil,relative to its suit-ability to support plant growth(primarily grasses),tests mustbe made to determine the presence and the amount of organicmatter,inorganic matter(sand,silt and clay),and deleteriousmaterials.1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soiland Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as aMedium for Plant Growth.Current edition approved June 1,2013.Published July 2013.Originally approvedin 1992.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D5268 07.DOI:10.1520/D5268-13.2Nutrient testing procedures are found in the state Agricultural ExperimentStation 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 ofSoil Chemical Analysis,Chemical Publishing Co.,New York,NY,1972.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.2 The quality of the result produced by this standard isdependent on the co