Native Plants for Roadside Revegetation: Field Evaluations and Best Practices Identification

Establishing native vegetation communities on roadsides can be a proactive approach to sustainable roadways. Revegetation with native species is the preferred management practice on Idaho roadways. The environmental and economic benefits of increasing desirable vegetation along Idaho roadways include: improving slope stabilization, soil conservation, roadway safety while reducing erosion, roadside maintenance costs and noxious weeds in right-of-ways. Selecting appropriate plant species for revegetation is the foundation for successful roadside revegetation. This report provides practical information for improving roadway revegetation in Idaho. The overall objective was to monitor vegetation and soil attributes to determine effective means for establishing perennial native vegetation, reducing surface erosion, and preventing weed encroachment. The results provide guidance and recommendations on species selection, seeding methods and site preparation techniques. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue were the best performing grasses. Grass species that consistently establish where seeded but have a low canopy cover include sheep fescue, western wheatgrass, and basin wildrye. Forbs and shrub species had low establishment success rates and low percent canopy cover on roadside revegetation projects. If forbs are desired, it is recommended to use species that are known to establish well, are relatively inexpensive, and tolerant of the herbicides being applied to control weeds

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27484
• Corporate Authors:

  Western Transportation Institute

  Montana State University, Bozeman
  P.O. Box 174250
  Bozeman, MT  United States  59717-4250

  Idaho Transportation Department

  Division of Highways, Resource Center, Research Program
  P.O. Box 7129, 3211 State Street
  Boise, ID  United States  83707-7129

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ament, Robert J
  • Pokorny, Monica L
  • Jennings, Stuart R
  • Mangold, Jane M
  • Orloff, L Noelle
• Publication Date: 2014-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 166p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Erosion control; Grasses; Native plants; Recommendations; Revegetation; Roadside flora; Seeding
• Geographic Terms: Idaho
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01536077
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-ID-14-217
• Contract Numbers: RP 217
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 28 2014 9:10AM