EVALUATION OF SEVERAL METHODS OF ESTABLISHING PLANT COVER BY SEEDING ON THE ROADSIDE

Several woody plant species were direct seeded on a roadside slope. Of the species that germinated, seedling survival declined over time. Cercis canadensis and Robinia pseudoacacia appeared to provide some cover, however natural seeding of these native plants also occurred in unseeded plots and buffers. Mixtures of grasses and herbaceous legumes were used for erosion control. Auena sativa provided rapid cover and held the seeds of more desirable species in the bottom of the existing gullies. Coronilla varia established permanent cover and halted erosion by the second season. Wheat straw, shredded hardwood bark and shredded rubber tires were evaluated as mulch materials for newly seeded slopes. Shredded bark and wheat straw gave excellent results, however, shredded rubber was inferior even to the check. The coverage and hardiness of twenty-six grasses and herbaceous legumes were evaluated. Vicia villosa and Trifolium pratense showed excellent cover and hardiness over a two year period.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report on Development of Techniques for Plant Establishment on the Roadside.
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284

  Indiana State Highway Commission

  Indianapolis, IN  United States  46204

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Carpenter, P L
  • Hensley, D
  • Newbill, D
  • Levinskas, N
• Publication Date: 1977-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 36 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Erosion control; Evaluation; Grasses; Highways; Legumes; Mixtures; Mulches; Plant growth; Planting; Plants; Roadside; Seeds; Seepage; Slopes; Survival; Trees; Vegetation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acceptability; Germination
• Old TRIS Terms: Leguminous plants; Oat plants; Plant cover
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175497
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IN-76-34 Intrm Rpt., JHRP-76-34
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1978 12:00AM