SELECTION, ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION ALONG NORTH CAROLINA'S ROADSIDES. FINAL REPORT

Plant adaptation zone delineations of North Carolina were generated by overlaying individual maps of North Carolina's environmental and geographical conditions. Selected plant types were established throughout North Carolina to evaluate their establishment and long term adaptation. The use of tall fescue and weeping lovegrass as nurse crops in the establishment of centipedegrass and bahiagrass was examined. The potential use of minimum tillage in the establishment of selected warm season grasses was studied. Growth retardants were evaluated for their potential use on tall fescue and bahiagrass turf. Minimum tillage preparations prior to plugging of warm season grasses provided an advantage over conventional procedures that persisted for 2 years after establishment. Delineated adaptation zones maps supported field observations for bahiagrass, bermudagrass, tall fescue and weeping lovegrass. Spring applications of maleic hydrazide (4 lbs ai/A), Embark (0.38 lbs ai/A), or Limit (2.5 lbs ai/A) provided acceptable suppression of tall fescue seedheads. Tall fescue growth retardant treatments after the initiation of spring seedhead development and before a seedhead length of 1.0 to 1.6 inches was reached were effective in suppressing the development and elongation of seedheads. Bahiagrass seedheads were significantly suppressed following applications of maleic hydrazide at 4 lb ai/A and Oust at 0.5 oz ai/A. While maleic hydrazide and Oust treatments in May and June resulted in seedhead control through July and most of August, reduced suppression was observed for late August and September seedheads.

• Corporate Authors:

  North Carolina State University, Raleigh

  Center for Transportation Engineering Studies, P.O. Box 7908
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27695

  North Carolina Department of Transportation

  Division of Highways, P.O. Box 25201
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27611

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • DiPaola, J M
  • Gilbert, W B
  • Lewis, W M
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Pagination: 367 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Grasses; Landscape design; Psychological adaptation; Retarders (Chemistry); Roadside; Urban growth
• Old TRIS Terms: Maleic hydrazide; Vegetation selection
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00462275
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/NC/85-003, ERSD-80-2
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 28 1987 12:00AM