ASTM_D_2980_-_04_2010.pdf

Designation:D298004(Reapproved 2010)Standard Test Method forVolume Mass,Moisture-Holding Capacity,and Porocity ofSaturated Peat Materials1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2980;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.Scope1.1 This test method was designed to evaluate the aeration,water penetration,and water retention properties of peat underfield conditions of water saturation.1.2 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:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD2974 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 TestingD6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in GeotechnicalDataE11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSieves3.Summary of Test Method3.1 The test method sets up standardized conditions formeasuring the volume and mass of saturated peat.From thesedata,saturated volume masses,moisture-holding capacity(on amass and volume basis),dry peat volumes,and porocity can bedetermined.4.Significance and Use4.1 This test method measures the air spaces of peat and themoisture-holding capacity on either a mass and/or a volumebasis under conditions of saturation.If large spaces are present,water and air can penetrate easily.If spaces are smaller,thewater holding capacity is increased.Water holding capacity islarger in humified peat materials(small inter-particulatespaces),whereas water and air-penetration is larger in unhu-mified peat(larger inter-particulate spaces).The spaces canalso be aan indication of the oxygen available to the plantroots.4.2 The quality of the result produced by this standard isdependent 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 generallyconsidered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc.Users of this standard are cautionedthat compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assurereliable results.Reliable results depend on many factors;Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of thosefactors.5.Apparatus5.1 Dispensing ApparatusTwo dispensing burets,250-mLcapacity in 1-mL subdivisions,62-mL tolerance,pinch-cocktype;a one-hole No.6 rubber stopper;straight polyethylenedrying tube with serrated rubber tubing fittings,150 mm long,19 mm(34in)in outside diameter,16 mm(58in.)in insidediameter;3a 4-mesh sieve;a balance;a moistureproof(air-tight)container;a 5-gal(20-L)bottle equipped with a siphondevice;and a stainless steel sieve circle about 16 mesh and28.7 mm in diameter to be attached to one end of the dryingtube and sealed.(A soldering iron is useful.)Adjust the lengthof the tube to match conveniently the graduation of the buret;then scallop the end without the sieve to allow for waterdrainage,and insert the tube into the dispensing buret with thesieve side up.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Mediumfor Plant Growth.Current edition approved Feb.1,2010.Published March 2010.Originallyapproved in 1971.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D2980 04.DOI:10.1520/D2980-04R10.2For 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.3A Cenco No.14782-2 drying tube has been found suitable for this purpose.Ifyou are aware of alternative suppliers,please provide this information to ASTMInternational Headquarters.Your comments will receive careful consideration at ameeting of the responsible technical committee,1which you may attend.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.Sample6.1 Place a representative field sample on a square rubbersheet,paper,or oil cloth.Reduce the sample to the quantityrequired by quartering and place in a pre-tared moisture-proofcontainer.Work rapidly to prevent moisture losses.7.Procedure7.1 Determine the moisture content on a separate testspecimen by Method I or II of Test Metho