ASTM_D_2977_-_14.pdf

Designation:D297714Standard Practice forParticle Size Range of Peat Materials for HorticulturalPurposes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2977;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 practice covers measurement of the mass percent-age of fractions of a peat material defined in terms of selectedranges of screen sizes.1.2 UnitsThe values stated in SI units are being regardedas standard.Units of inch-pound are provided for informationonly.1.3 All measured and calculated values shall conform to theguidelines for significant digits and rounding established inPractice D6026.1.4 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.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms in thispractice,refer to Terminology D653.4.Summary of Practice4.1 A representative test specimen of air-dried peat isseparated into four designated fractions by means of a 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve and an 0.85 mm(No.20)sieve.The fractions are:(1)foreign matter removed manually from the 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve,(2)coarse fiber retained on the 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve,(3)medium fiber through the 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve butretained on the 0.85 mm(No.20)sieve and fine fibers and finesthrough the 0.85 mm(No.20)sieve.The mass percentage ofeach fraction is reported on the as-received basis.5.Significance and Use5.1 This practice separates peat material into arbitraryfractions based on particle size.Physical separation of peatmaterial according to particle size provides a useful indicatorof the properties of a peat specimen such as pore space,decomposition,etc.It provides a means of determining theamount of foreign matter not in a divided state such as sticks,stones,and glass.NOTE1The quality of the result produced by this standard isdependent on the competence of the personnel performing it,and thesuitability of the equipment and facilities used.Agencies that meet thecriteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competentand objective testing/sampling/inspection/and the like.Users of thisstandard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not initself assure reliable results.Reliable results depend on many factors;Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.6.Apparatus6.1 Mechanical Sieve Shaker.6.2 Sieves2.36 mm(No.8)and 0.85 mm(No.20)sievesequipped with cover and bottom pan.6.3 Balance or Scale,a balance or scale for determining themass of the soil having a minimum capacity of 500 g and1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.22 on Soil as a Mediumfor Plant Growth.Current edition approved Nov.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 1971.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D2977 03,which waswithdrawn February 2012 and reinstated in November 2014.DOI:10.1520/D2977-14.2For 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.*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 meeting the requirements of Standard D4753 for a balance orscale of 0.01 g readability.7.Preparation of Sample7.1 Air-dry sample in accordance with Method B of TestMethods D2974,and record the mass percentage of moistureremoved by air-drying.Information on obtaining a representa-tive sample is covered in Test Methods D2974.8.Procedure8.1 Mix the air-dried sample thoroughly and place anapproximately 20-g specimen on the 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve.Secure the 2.36 mm(No.8)and 0.85 mm(No.20)sievesequipped with cover and bottom pan and shake at a suitablespeed for 10 min.Remove foreign matter from the 2.36 mm(No.8)sieve and determine the m