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ASTM D5268-13

Historical Revision

Standard Specification for Topsoil Used for Landscaping and Construction Purposes

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1.1 This specification covers a physical evaluation of an inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, relative to its use as a topsoil for horticultural purposes in construction. For classification, a full agricultural textural classification may be used.

1.2 The presence in the soil of the correct nutrients and pH status is necessary for healthy plant growth. This specification does not, however, cover a determination of the nutrients, nor their availability.2

Note 1The nutrient content of topsoil is important and the nutrients usually evaluated are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nutrient deficiencies may be corrected using organic or inorganic fertilizers. Excess soluble salts should be examined as to their desirability. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil is also important. Excess acidity may be corrected by the application of lime. Excess alkalinity may be corrected by the application of sulfur or other suitable acidifying compounds. The latter item, in addition to lowering pH, also could be considered as an aggregate when considering the particle size distribution.

1.3 Typical general ranges of soil content are presented in Table 1. Soils falling within these ranges will generally form a suitable topsoil. It must, however, be recognized that in some geographic regions, concurrence with the values of Table 1 would be most difficult. In such cases, locally acceptable specifications would need to be developed.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 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.


This specification covers the physical evaluation of an inorganic soil containing a limited amount of organic material, relative to its use as topsoil for landscaping and horticultural purposes in construction. Though the presence of the correct nutrients and pH status in the soil is necessary for healthy plant growth, this specification, however, does not address either the determination or the availability of such properties. When physically evaluating soil relative to its suitability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic matter, inorganic matter (sand, silt, and clay), and deleterious materials (rocks, gravel, slag, cinder, roots, and sod). The apparatuses required here are sieves and containers, balances, and a muffle furnace.


4.1 When physically evaluating a soil, relative to its suitability to support plant growth (primarily grasses), tests must be made to determine the presence and the amount of organic matter, inorganic matter (sand, silt and clay), and deleterious materials.

4.2 The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent 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 generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.

SDO ASTM: ASTM International
Document Number D5268
Publication Date June 1, 2013
Language en - English
Page Count 3
Revision Level 13
Supercedes
Committee D18.22
Publish Date Document Id Type View
Nov. 1, 2023 D5268-23 Revision
Oct. 1, 2022 D5268-22 Revision
Nov. 1, 2019 D5268-19E01 Revision
Nov. 1, 2019 D5268-19 Revision
June 1, 2013 D5268-13 Revision
Sept. 1, 2007 D5268-07 Revision
Nov. 10, 2002 D5268-02 Revision
Jan. 1, 1996 D5268-92R97 Reaffirmation