What to add to this "soil"?

[Hay Dude]

I had soil tested I bought as 16 tons topsoil which I spread in front yard depressions, it rained that night and it turned to like concrete. It came from where an apartment complex is going in, the delivery place refunded my money. I couldn't believe how acidic it was, 5.1ph, and why it would be.
I'll till areas, add fertilizer & lime I assume then add real composted topsoil and plant fescue late summer.
Thoughts are appreciated and I'd like to buy a good ph meter. I have two but they weren't accurate.
Thanks.View attachment 803794View attachment 803795

Looks like clay

 

[Farmdog267]

If you have a local supplier of mushroom soil or good composted manure, that would be a step in the right direction!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The county agent called and suggested 10-10-10 since numbers were close as well as lime to raise 5.1ph to normal, 6.5-7.
Half now, till it, other half in 1-2 months and then I'll put real topsoil on top, seed tall fescue in September.
It should be fine.

 

[jaxs]

The more I hear about the "material" the more convinced I am you should insist the supplier remove it and haul it away. At minimum you should have it lab tested for contamination and structure before trying to make silk purses from sow ears. It's very possible chemicals were added when used beneath the building and reversing it may be impossible.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I don't know what " It's very possible chemicals were added when used beneath the building and reversing it may be impossible." means. What building?
I put this stuff in containers and plants are living in it. I added a handful of lime and plants took off overnight, all good signs according to agent.

 

[jaxs]

I don't know what " It's very possible chemicals were added when used beneath the building and reversing it may be impossible." means. What building?

The building the guy that posted this on May 18th was talking about.
"I texted guy I got it from, no reply, called and he was "ticked"

...finally told me who he got it from (who I actually know of...80's guy)...he installs septic tanks!

I called him, he said it's from apartment complex that was going in, sold 100 loads no complaints. He's refunding $600 I paid.
County I called said they would have stuff analyzed."
They didn't sell 100 loads virgin soil from digging a septic system,they sold sold 100 loads of fill from beneath apartments which had been demoed. To prevent swell & shrink ,it's common practice to treat soil before pouring concrete over it. I didn't see it all in color,just put 2 and 2 together and made a logical conclusion. So far no one has told us of virgin soil that reacts to water the way you said.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I found a satellite view of that area before any digging and it showed 28 acres of scrub pine and unkept land. Everything I know now it wasn't a landfill or dump site, there was (is) some small amount of broken glass in it. Lots of rocks walnut sized.
I'm sure I could sue the guy, have all that removed but what a mess that would make.
The county agent said after fertilized, tilled, good real topsoil on top it will be fine.

 

[jaxs]

The county agent said after fertilized, tilled, good real topsoil on top it will be fine.

Since the material was well pulverized when delivered but immediately turned concrete like when moistened I believe you will have permanent hard pan beneath soil you put over it. The satellite view is of the area where trucker "said" it came from but we already know he isn't trustworthy so he may have lied to cover his behind. Based on what you observed when your wife whacked it with a garden tool the soil must have been processed through a crusher before delivery. I wager it was chemically treated at the same time for some special use then sold as surplus. I wouldn't rest until it is lab tested and knowing why it hardens.
A friend that works for Texdot told me about a company who furnished asphalt for paving roads. The paving company owner also had a hazardous waste disposal service picking up fluids from auto repair shops then mixing them with asphalt. Tax payers were out millions for tearing pavement out and paying for proper disposal.
If lab tests turned up something similar you might want a lawyer to see if trucker has liability insurance and/or has assets that can be attached.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Since the material was well pulverized when delivered but immediately turned concrete like when moistened I believe you will have permanent hard pan beneath soil you put over it. The satellite view is of the area where trucker "said" it came from but we already know he isn't trustworthy so he may have lied to cover his behind. Based on what you observed when your wife whacked it with a garden tool the soil must have been processed through a crusher before delivery. I wager it was chemically treated at the same time for some special use then sold as surplus. I wouldn't rest until it is lab tested and knowing why it hardens.
A friend that works for Texdot told me about a company who furnished asphalt for paving roads. The paving company owner also had a hazardous waste disposal service picking up fluids from auto repair shops then mixing them with asphalt. Tax payers were out millions for tearing pavement out and paying for proper disposal.
If lab tests turned up something similar you might want a lawyer to see if trucker has liability insurance and/or has assets that can be attached.

Thanks but did have it tested. I jumped the gun original post upset because it was like concrete, thinking the worst. This is 100% certain where it came from, both from a reputable topsoil provider and county agent.
Certainly I'd rather it not be here, but don't want making a mountain out of a mole hill. I'm sure my attorney could win a lawsuit having remediation but what a major ordeal that would be. It didn't come from an EPA cleanup site, my main concern. Low ph in subsoil is weird, agent said unusual but has seen it.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I filled large containers with this junk soil for wife plant vegetables. I should have taken before pictures...plants barely living. This is after sprinkling lime and they improved overnight. I just now got ph litmus paper test kit, see what it is. It will never do well (my opinion) because I'd have to remove plants, remove soil, add lime, fertilizer and organic compost (we have horses), mix and replant.
Essentially that's what I'm doing on the land.