Understanding Soils and Boring Reports

Dr. Norman Hummel Hummel & Co. Inc. (www.turfdoctor.com)

Goals: Goals

Participants will have a better g of soil boring g reports, p , soil understanding testing and soil test reports. Participants will be able to read read, understand, and use soil test reports.

When is Exploratory E plo ato Work Wo k Used

New Construction

Evaluate soils, subsoils subsoils, , other elements in the soil profile prior to construction May yp provide direction for design g and construction. Diagnose soil problems in existing fields

Existing st g Fields e ds

Information Info mation So Sought ght

Impenetrable layers

Bedrock? Will subsurface drain system be needed? Can C it i be b reused, d modified, difi d or all ll imported? i d?

Depth to ground water

Soil types present

Permeability to water

Sampling p g Methods Preconstruction

Soil Augers Hammers with sample tubes Excavation equipment

Sampling Methods Existing Fields ld

Soil
The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.

SOIL
- Has been subjected to and shows the effects of genetic and environmental factors of climate (water and temperature) and micro and macroorganisms, conditioned by y relief, , acting g on parent material over a period of time.

Properties P ope ties of Soils

Biological

Chemical

Physical

Soil Physical Ph sical Properties P ope ties

Texture Structure Density

Influence on porosity (total, micro, macro) Saturated hydraulic conductivity (infiltration) Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity Water content, water retention characteristics

Soil water

Soil Texture Te t e

Division of soil particles according to size: sand, silt, clay. Textural classes determined by percentage of each. Influences physical properties of the soil: porosity, pore space distribution, compressibility, and drainage characteristics.

Soil Classification Systems S stems

Unified Soil Classification System

ASTM D2487, test based Textural analysis, plasticity index ASTM D2488, visual based

Visual/Manual Description of Soils

U d primarily Used i il for f engineering i i purposes Very comprehensive, definitive

LL liquid limit CL Sandy lean clay ML - gravelly silt with sand and d cobbles bbl

Sie es AASTO Sieves

Sieve Number #4 #8 #16 #30 #50 #100 #200 Sieve Size 4.75 mm 2 28 mm 2.28 1.19 mm 0.6 mm 0.3 mm 0.15 mm 0.075 mm Separates p sand from silt and clay Coarser is gravel

Soil Classification Systems y USDA

12 soil textural classes Used primarily in description of planting soils.

Sie es USDA Sieves

Sieve Number #10 #18 #35 #60 #140 #270 Sieve Size 2 mm 1 mm 0.5 mm 0.25 mm 0.1 mm 0.05 mm Separates sand from silt and clay Coarser is gravel

Can we amend soils to change soil texture? Yes!

Considerations in Amending g Soils with Sand

Sand particle size distribution Amount of sand to add Composition of sand (calcareous vs. silica) S d particle Sand ti l shape h

Recommendations Based on Ohio State Research

ASTM CC-33 concrete sand with Cu < 4 and fineness modulus of 2.5 to 3.2. Sand content of about 65 75% Organic matter content of 4 8% by weight.

ASTM CC-33 Concrete Conc ete Sand

Sand Size 4.75 mm (No. 4) 2.36 mm (No. 8) 1.18 1 18 mm (No. (N 16) 0.60 mm (No. 30) 0.30 mm (No. 50) 0.15 mm (No. 100) % Passing 95 100% 80 100% 50 85% 25 30% 5 30% 0 10%

Soil Bulk B lk Density Densit

Unit weight of dry soil (g/cc, pcf) pcf) Influenced by soil texture sandy soils higher than fine textured soils. Decreases with increasing organic matter matter. Directly related to porosity. Directly affects ff t d drainage. i Reported in lb/cu ft or g/cc.

Conversion (g/cc x 62.4 = lb./cu. ft.)

Soil Bulk B lk Densities

Sandy soils 1.4 to 1.7 g/cc Fine textured soils 1.2 1 2 to 1 1.6 6 g/cc Also heavily influenced by organic content S what So h ti is dense d (compacted)? ( t d)?

Proctor P octo Testing

Moisture Density of gravelly sandy loam soil (5.8% OM)

96

D e n s it y ( lb /c u f t )

95.5 95 94.5 94 93.5 93 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Soil moisture content (%)

Moisture Density Relationship of Sand Based Structural Soil (Lab ID No. 16603 1) 16603-1)
107.5

D e n s ity (lb /c u . ft.)

107 106.5 106 105 5 105.5 105 104.5 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%

Soil Water Content (%)

Other Othe Test Pa Parameters amete s

Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Porosity

Air filled Water filled

Density

Saturated Hydraulic y Conductivity y (Infiltration rate) rate at which soil core conducts water.

Porosity voids existing between sand and soil particles, or within soil aggregates. Macroporosity p y (aeration) ( ) larger g pores p that conduct water under saturated conditions, , filled with air when evacuated. Microporosity (capillary) smaller pores that hold water against gravitational forces.

O ganic Matter Organic Matte

Increases soil cation exchange capacity Increases microbial p populations p and activity Improves p soil physical p y conditions

Lower density, increased porosity Improved p structure Increased infiltration Increased water holding capacity

C Compost tQ Quality lit for f Amending A di Soils S il

Color brown to black Screened to inch Organic matter content > 30% M i t Moisture content t t 30 60% C/N ratio 15:1 to 30:1

C Compost tQ Quality lit for f Amending A di Soils S il

Solvita Maturity Index 5 to 8 pH of 6 to 8 Meet EPA or state guidelines EC of f<4 4.0 0 dS

Chemical Testing

Sample soil to be used as topsoil p (on (on( -site, , stockpile) p ) Use lab you are familiar with. U lab Use l b that h provides id recommendations

Chemical Testing g Whats Important

pH, pH buffer Phosphorus, Phosphorus potassium Calcium, magnesium, sodium Mi Micronutrients ti t Nitrogen?