A LOW-COST MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR INDIANA ROADSIDES
This study was to design a minimal, low-cost maintenance program for Indiana roadsides. The principal objective was to combine mechanical and chemical methods in such a way as to maintain healthy turf at lowest possible cost to the Indiana State Highway Commission and the State of Indiana. Roadside weed surveys identified weed problems, weeds missed by conventional spraying schedules, and unnecessary maintenance operations. New herbicide combinations and techniques were developed. Laboratory, greenhouse and field studies were carried out to better understand the modes of actions of the herbicides involved, the physiological responses of the plants to be controlled, and to evaluate or verify environmental safety. The outcome was implementation of an environmentally-safe, two cycle spray schedule combining late fall and early spring applications of amine formulations of 2,4-D. The elimination of unnecessary spraying cycles, reduction from 5-cycle to 3-cycle and further reduced mowing has resulted in cost savings of approximately $800,000 per year for the 5 years of this project.
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Corporate Authors:
Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP
Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering
West Lafayette, IN United States 47907-1284Indiana State Highway Commission
Indianapolis, IN United States 46204Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Morre, D J
- Publication Date: 1977-7-6
Media Info
- Pagination: 113 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Chlorine organic compounds; Cost engineering; Field tests; Grasses; Herbicides; Highways; Maintenance; Mixtures; Plant growth; Safety; Savings; Sprayers; Surveys; Turf; Vegetation; Weed control
- Uncontrolled Terms: Spraying
- Geographic Terms: Indiana
- Old TRIS Terms: Chlorine aromatic compounds
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00176026
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
- Report/Paper Numbers: JHRP-77-13, FHWA/IN-77/13
- Files: NTIS, ATRI, USDOT
- Created Date: Jul 19 2002 12:00AM