MICROCLIMATE CONDITIONS FOUND ON HIGHWAY SLOPE FACINGS AS RELATED TO ADAPTION OF SPECIES

THE DIRECTION IN WHICH A HIGHWAY SLOPE FACES AFFECTS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND STAND SURVIVAL OF SOD ALONG HIGHWAYS. SLOPE EXPOSURE ALSO AFFECTS THE ADAPTION OF PLANT SPECIES USED AS SOD. MICROCLIMATE IS ALTERED BY ORIENTATIONS OF THE SOIL SURFACE WITH RESPECT TO THE SUN. MEASUREMENTS OF MICRO- CLIMATE CONDITIONS WERE MADE ON SLOPE FACINGS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE SEASON AND UNDER SEVERAL CONDITIONS OF PLANT COVER. CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WERE FOUND BETWEEN SOIL SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT INTENSITY, DENSITY OF SOD, PLANT COVER CLIPPING HEIGHT, AND THE DIRECTION TOWARDS WHICH THE SLOPE FACES. THERE WAS LITTLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEMPERATURE 3 FEET ABOVE THE SOIL AND AT THE SOIL SURFACE. SLOPE FACINGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN SELECTING SPECIES, MULCHES, AND FERTILIZERS FOR TURF ESTABLISHMENT. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FAVORABLE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SOUTH-FACING SLOPES MIGHT BE SEEDED EARLIER IN THE SPRING AND LATER IN THE FALL THAN NORTH-FACING SLOPES.

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  • Authors:
    • McKee Jr, W H
    • Powell Jr, A J
    • Cooper, R B
    • Blaser, R E
  • Publication Date: 1965

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: pp 38-43
  • Monograph Title: Roadside development
  • Serial:

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00204577
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Dec 12 1994 12:00AM