3877Topsoil Material

3877.1SCOPE

Provide topsoil Material for use as a medium to establish plant growth for water quality and permanent erosion protection. Provide manufactured soils for use as a medium for treating and filtering stormwater in rain gardens, horizontal filter berms, dikes, bioswales, and bioslopes.

3877.2REQUIREMENTS

Provide loam to sandy loam topsoil from Type A and/or Type B horizon soils defined in the soil profile section of the Grading and Base Manual, from alluvial deposits, or blended from defined sand, compost, and loam to sandy loam topsoil sources. Manufactured topsoil’s in section E, F, G, and H are blended on a volume basis of Materials. When the individual components have been verified to meet the appropriate Specification, the blended Material in the ratio indicated shall meet this Specification. In addition to the requirements, any of the topsoil types may require soil conditioners, plant hormones, or root stimulators in accordance with 3896, “Soil and Root Additives.” Aggregate Material from sources other than Gravel pits and quarries must also meet the minimum contaminants requirements in US EPA 503 or Minnesota Rules Part 7035.2846 Subp. 6, Sec. A. A Common Topsoil Borrow Provide common topsoil borrow ranging from a Silt loam, loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam soils for general use as a turf growing medium and in accordance with Table 3877.2-1. Common topsoil borrow Material is a blend of Type A and/or Type B horizon soils defined in the soil profile section of the Grading and Base Manual, and is similar to topsoil found adjacent to the Project. Table 3877.2-1 Common Topsoil Borrow Requirements Requirement Range Test Method Material passing No. 4 inch ≥ 85 percent — Clay 5 – 35 percent ASTM D422* Silt 5 - 70 percent ASTM D422* Sand 10 - 75 percent ASTM D422* Organic matter 3 – 15 percent ASTM D2974ǁ pH 6.1 – 7.8 ASTM G51† Largest Materials size dimension not to exceed 2.5 inches * ASTM D422, Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils ǁ ASTM D2974, Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils † ASTM G51, Standard Test Method for Measuring pH of Soil for Use in Corrosion Testing

B Loam Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow consisting mostly of loam ranging into sandy clay loam, sandy loam, S ilt loam, and clay loam soils as a plant growing medium for landscape and planting beds and in accordance with Table 3877.2-2: Table 3877.2-2 Loam Topsoil Borrow Requirements Requirement Range Test Method Material Passing the 3/4 inch 100 percent ASTM D422* Material passing No. 4 ≥ 90 percent - Clay 5 – 35 percent ASTM D422* Silt 10 – 60 percent ASTM D422* Sand 15 – 60 percent ASTM D422* Organic matter 3 – 15 percent ASTM D2974ǁ pH 6.1 – 7.5 ASTM G51† Soluble salts ≤ 0.15 siemens/meter — * ASTM D422, Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils ǁ ASTM D2974, Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils † ASTM G51, Standard Test Method for Measuring pH of Soil for Use in Corrosion Testing C Sandy Clay Loam Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow mostly consisting of a sandy clay loam and ranging into clay loam, sandy loam, and loam soils for use as a plant growing medium in critical areas, such as steep slopes and as a top dressing for turf reinforcement mats, and in accordance with Table 3877.2-3: Table 3877.2-3 Sandy Clay Loam Topsoil Borrow Requirements Requirement Range Test Method Screened — — Material passing the 3/4 inch 100 percent ASTM D422* Material passing No. 4 ≥ 95 percent ASTM D422* Clay 10 – 35 percent ASTM D422* Silt 0 – 40 percent ASTM D422* Sand 30 – 75 percent ASTM D422* Organic matter 3 – 15 percent ASTM D2974ǁ pH 6.0 – 7.5 ASTM G51† Soluble salts ≤ 0.15 siemens/meter — * ASTM D422, Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils ǁ ASTM D2974, Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of Peat and Other Organic Soils † ASTM G51, Standard Test Method for Measuring pH of Soil for Use in Corrosion Testing D Rooting Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow consisting of three blended components of loam topsoil, sand, and compost for use as a well-drained coarse sand medium for vegetative plant restoration, plant preservation, or as a plant growing medium for rooting, water quality, and infiltration . The components consist of the following by volume.

3149.2J, ”Sand Cover”

Supplement with root additives to stimulate root establishment in water quality treatment facility. E Boulevard Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow containing three blended components consisting of loam topsoil, sand, and compost for use as structural soil for plant establishment in streetscape boulevards . The components consist of the following by volume:

3149.2J, ”Sand Cover”

F Filter Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow containing two blended components of sand and compost for water quality, plant growing medium, and filtration medium with a filtration rate of at least 4 inches/hour. The components consist of the following by volume:

for Portland Cement Concrete”

G Organic Topsoil Borrow Provide topsoil borrow containing two blended components of topsoil, and compost for a plant growing medium to enhance existing soils. The components by volume consist of:

Provide Type 4 fertilizer in accordance with 3881, “Fertilizer,” plant hormones in accordance with 3896, “Soil and Root Additives.”

3877.3SAMPLING AND TESTING

Provide Material from vendors that have been approved by the Erosion and Storm Water Management Unit or submit a list of prospective sources for topsoil Material to the Engineer at the preconstruction meeting to allow for inspecting, testing, and approving the sources. Submit preapproval test results to the Office of Environmental Stewardship, Erosion & Stormwater Management Unit . If federal or State chemical or biological requirements conflict, provide Material meeting the most stringent requirement. Test blended topsoil for each individual component before blending. The Contractor shall conduct fertility testing in accordance with the standard testing procedures of the University of Minnesota Soils Testing Laboratory, Soil Science Department .