ASTM D5268
Full Name
ASTM D5268 – Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction Purposes
Scope
ASTM D5268 provides a framework for the physical evaluation of topsoil intended for landscaping and construction applications. It focuses on assessing the soil’s suitability for supporting vegetative growth, primarily grasses. While the standard emphasizes physical properties, it acknowledges the importance of chemical factors such as nutrient content, pH, and salt levels for plant health, although these are not within the scope of D5268 itself.
Key aspects of ASTM D5268:
- Scope: the standard applies to soils containing organic material used as topsoil in landscaping and construction projects. It uses a full agricultural textural classification system.
- Evaluation: the evaluation process involves determining the presence and amount of organic matter, moisture content, inorganic components (sand, silt, and clay), pH, salt content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and potentially harmful materials.
- Requirements: ASTM D5268 specifies acceptable ranges for these properties to ensure topsoil quality. It’s important to note that regional variations may necessitate adjustments to these values. Engineered soil amendments can be used in situations where meeting the standard’s requirements is challenging, particularly concerning sand, silt, and clay content.
- Nutrient content: while not directly addressed in D5268, the standard highlights the importance of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for plant growth. It suggests that nutrient deficiencies can be addressed through fertilization, and pH imbalances can be corrected with lime or sulfur applications.
The standard provides typical ranges for topsoil components, which generally indicate suitable topsoil quality. These include:
- Organic matter: while the standard allows for a broader range (1-90%), topsoil with organic matter content between 10% and 90% may require amendments before use.
- Sand content: 20-60%
- Fines (silt and clay) content: 35-70%
- Total dissolved solids (TDS): <960 ppm
- Soluble salt concentration: <2.5 mmhos/cm
- pH: 5.5-8.0
ASTM D5268 Accredited Laboratory
Applied Testing & Geosciences, LLC is accredited for performing tests using the ASTM D5268 standard.
Contact us today to discuss your testing needs and ensure your landscaping or construction project gets off to a strong start with high-quality topsoil.
Resources
Keywords
topsoil; plant growth; plant health; organic material; soil; landscaping; construction; sand; silt; clay; deleterious materials; inorganic matter; nutrients; pH; texture