PRAIRIE RESTORATION: AN EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGEMENT OF NATIVE GRASS COMMUNITIES IN HIGHWAY ROADSIDES IN TEXAS. INTERIM REPORT

This is an interim report on the Prairie Restoration Project. This report documents the results of a literature search and the way in which conclusions drawn from that search will be used to design the individual studies. The goal of the Prairie Restoration Project is to evaluate selected roadside vegetation management techniques that will encourage healthier, more stable grass communities. Five study sites in Texas will be established. These sites are located near Amarillo, Dallas, Abilene, Austin, and Harlingen, and have been selected for their differences in climate, soils, and native vegetation. A literature search identified key characteristics of mature prairie grass systems. The three major components of grass communities identified that can be influenced by routine maintenance operations are plant disturbance, litter accumulation, and reproduction. Based on the findings, differing maintenance regimes will be designed and evaluated in which these factors are manipulated. The differences between these regimes will be timing of mowing activities in relation to vegetation community dynamics, the frequency of those activities, and the specific techniques and equipment employed in the maintenance operations. The directions for the structure and general goals of the research are presented, and the status of project sites is outlined. Plan sheets of completed projects are included.

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/tti/944-1.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Construction Landscape Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Transfer Office, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5051
• Authors:
  • Schutt, J R
  • Teal, M A
• Publication Date: 1994-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 45 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Biological reproduction; Ecology; Grasses; Grasslands; Guides to the literature; Literature reviews; Litter; Maintenance equipment; Maintenance practices; Mowing; Native plants; Roadside; Vegetation; Vegetation control
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Old TRIS Terms: Plant disturbance
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00672575
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TX-94/944-1, Res Rept 944-1, TTI: 7-944
• Contract Numbers: Study No. 7-944
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 17 1995 12:00AM