IGNITION TESTS FOR SOIL ORGANIC-CONTENT MEASUREMENT

Problems with organic soils are often avoided by engineers because of uncertainties in organic-content measurement and lack of information on potential decomposition. High temperatures, used in the ignition test for measurement of the organic fraction, require that a correction be made for loss of surface hydration water from the mineral solids. Model soils, prepared from kaolinite and pulp fiber, and the dehydration curves for these materials have permitted development of a correction factor for use with the ignition test. A review of published data and an error analysis suggest that this correction factor may be unstable for natural organic soils. The ignition test does not distinguish between under composed organic matter and microorganisms formed during decomposition; hence, the degree of decomposition has not been available. A relationship--between microorganism cell content, underdecomposed organic matter, and the mineral fraction--has been developed which permits computation of the degree of decomposition.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Al-Khafaji, AAWN
  • Andersland, O B
• Publication Date: 1981-4

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 465-479
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 107
  • Issue Number: GT4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decomposition; Drying; Hydration; Ignition; Kaolinite; Measurement; Microorganisms; Organic content; Tests; Values in measurement; Water
• Uncontrolled Terms: Correction (Mathematics); Dehydration; Ignition test
• Old TRIS Terms: Organic content (Soil)
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334006
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 16174
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM