THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL MIXTURES ON TURF GROWTH AND SOIL STABILITY FOR HIGHWAY SHOULDERS AND AIRPORTS

THE WIDE VARIATION OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND SOIL TYPES PREVAILING ALONG HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND ON AIRFIELD SITES OBVIOUSLY WILL REQUIRE CLOSE ATTENTION FOR THE SELECTION OF GRASS SPECIES FOR THE REVEGETATION OF HIGHWAY SHOULDERS AND BERMS, AS WELL AS AIRFIELDS. THE WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN THE USE OF GRASSES AS VALUABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IS EVIDENCED BY EXPERIMENTAL AS WELL AS FUNCTIONAL PROJECTS BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VARIOUS STATE HIGHWAY ORGANIZATIONS. THE MOST DESIRABLE GRASSES FOR THESE PURPOSES SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: (1) ADAPTATION TO LOCAL SOIL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS; (2) RESISTANCE TO LOAD PENETRATION AND TRAFFIC ABUSE; (3) RAPID RECOVERY FOLLOWING INTENSIVE USE: (4) DROUGHT RESISTANCE; AND (5) LOW MAINTENANCE COST. A STUDY WAS INITIATED IN 1944 IN MICHIGAN TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF MIXING VARIOUS AMOUNTS AND TYPES OF SOILS INTO THE TOP 6 INCHES OF COMMONLY EMPLOYED SAND AND GRAVEL SUBBASES, OR BASE COURSES, ON GROWTH OF VARIOUS GRASSES AND ALSO UPON THE STABILITY OF THE SURFACES PRODUCED WITH VARYING SOIL MATERIALS AND GRASSES. THE RESULTS OF THE TEST SECTIONS INDICATED THAT CHEWINGS FESCUE WAS AN EXCELLENT GRASS TO PLANT ON SHOULDER SURFACES STABILIZED WITH SANDY GRAVELLY MATERIALS. THOSE PLOTS ON WHICH QUACKGRASS PREDOMINATED SHOWED VERY GOOD RESULTS ON LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY. THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED MAINLY TO THE WIDESPREAD ROOT-BASKET AND HEAVY TOP GROWTH WHICH FLOURISHED ON ALL SOIL TYPES INVOLVED IN THE TEST. TOPSOILS CONSISTING OF MIAMI LOAM, BROOKSTON LOAM AND BELLEFONTAINE SANDY LOAM CAN BE SATISFACTORILY MIXED WITH SANDS AND GRAVELS TO PRODUCE A TURF WHILE MIXING CLAY AND PEAT HAD VARYING RESULTS.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbroadsidedevcomrpts/1953/1953-004.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • No 286, P 7-28, 3 FIG, 7 TAB, 5 REF, 1 APP. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • BLOMQUIST, G C
• Publication Date: 1953

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Roadside Development Committee Reports
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Bearing capacity; Grasses; Gravel; Penetration resistance; Road shoulders; Sand; Soil stabilization; Soils; Turf
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stabilization
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00205031
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 22 1971 12:00AM