Understanding Soils and

Boring Reports
Dr. Norman Hummel
Hummel & Co. Inc.
(www.turfdoctor.com)
Goals:
Goals

„ Participants will have a better

understandingg of soil boringg reports,
p , soil
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
„ Mayy pprovide direction for design
g and
construction.
„ Existing
st g Fields
e ds
„ Diagnose soil problems in existing fields
 Information
Info mation So
Sought
ght

„ Impenetrable layers
„ Bedrock?
„ Depth to ground water
„ Will subsurface drain system be needed?
„ Soil types present
„ Can
C iti be
b reused,
d modified,
difi d or allll imported?
i d?
„ 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 byy 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)
„ Soil water
„ Saturated hydraulic conductivity (infiltration)
„ Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity
„ Water content, water retention characteristics
 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
„ Visual/Manual Description of Soils
„ ASTM D2488, visual based
„ 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 Sieve Size
#4 4.75 mm Coarser is gravel
#8 2 28 mm
2.28
#16 1.19 mm
#30 0.6 mm
#50 0.3 mm
#100 0.15 mm
#200 0.075 mm Separates
p sand from silt
and clay
 Soil Classification Systems
y -
USDA
„ 12 soil textural classes
„ Used primarily in description of planting
soils.
 Sie es – USDA
Sieves
Sieve Number Sieve Size
#10 2 mm Coarser is gravel
#18 1 mm
#35 0.5 mm
#60 0.25 mm
#140 0.1 mm
#270 0.05 mm Separates sand from silt
and clay
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 C-
C-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 C-
C-33 Concrete
Conc ete Sand
Sand Size % Passing
4.75 mm (No. 4) 95 – 100%
2.36 mm (No. 8) 80 – 100%
1.18
1 18 mm (No.
(N 16) 50 – 85%
0.60 mm (No. 30) 25 – 30%
0.30 mm (No. 50) 5 – 30%
0.15 mm (No. 100) 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 t iis 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

107
D e n s ity (lb /c u . ft.)

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 Conductivityy
(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 ppopulations
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
tQQuality
lit for
f Amending
A di Soils
S il

„ Color – brown to black

„ Screened to ½ inch
„ Organic matter content > 30%
„ M i t
Moisture content
t t 30 – 60%
„ C/N ratio 15:1 to 30:1
C
Compost
tQQuality
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 off < 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 – What’s
Important
„ pH, pH buffer
„ Phosphorus,
Phosphorus potassium
„ Calcium, magnesium, sodium
„ Mi
Micronutrients
ti t
„ Nitrogen?