WEEPING LOVEGRASS FOR HIGHWAY SLOPES IN THE VIRGINIAS

RESEARCH INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL GEOGRAPHICAL SECTIONS OF VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA TO DETERMINE THE GENERAL ADAPTABILITY OF WEEPING LOVEGRASS TO THE VARIOUS SOILS AND CLIMATES ALONG ROADSIDES IN THESE TWO STATES. WEEPING LOVEGRASS GAVE QUICK- ESTABLISHING COVER AND SLOPE PROTECTION DURING THE HOT SUMMER PERIODS IN BOTH STATES. IN CONTRAST, COOL- SEASON SPECIES SUCH AS KENTUCKY 31 FESCUE GENERALLY ESTABLISHED MUCH SLOWER AND WERE NOT AS EFFECTIVE FOR OBTAINING QUICK EROSION CONTROL DURING THE SUMMER PERIOD. LIMING APPEARED TO BE NECESSARY ONLY ON CERTAIN ACID SOIL FORMATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS AND ON THE VERY ACID PYRITE SOIL MATERIALS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN REGION OF VIRGINIA. THE USE OF A 10-20-10 FERTILIZER AT 750 LB/ACRE WAS GENERALLY SATISFACTORY FOR OBTAINING QUICK-ESTABLISHING STRANDS OF WEEPING LOVEGRASS AND FOR ALLOWING GRADUAL BOTANICAL SHIFTS TO SERICEA LESPEDEZA, CROWN VETCH, OR WOODY VEGETATION. INCREASING THIS FERTILIZER RATE TO 1,500 LB/ACRE GREATLY INCREASED THE DENSITY AND PERSISTENCE OF LOVEGRASS ON THE VARY STEEP SLOPES. APPLYING LATERAL FURROWS TO THE SLOPE FACE PRIOR TO SEEDING GREATLY IMPROVED THE RAPIDITY OF OBTAINING LOVEGRASS STANDS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LOW FERTILIZER RATES ON LOOSE, FRIABLE, AND STEEP SLOPES. THE BEST AND FASTEST ESTABLISHING LOVEGRASS STANDS WERE OBTAINED WITH SEEDINGS MADE DURING THE LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER PERIODS. SEEDING IN EARLY SPRING OFTEN GAVE GOOD LOVEGRASS STADS, BUT THESE GREW VERY SLOWLY DURING THE COOL SPRING AND WERE SUBJECTED TO FROST KILL AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS. SEEDING BEFORE LATE SUMMER WAS NECESSARY TO ALLOW LOVEGRASS TO COMPLETE SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE GROWING SEASON TO ENSURE WINTER SURVIVAL.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1972/411/411-002.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309020832
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Committee on Roadside Development. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Woodruff, J M
  • Green, J T
  • Blaser, R E
• Conference:
  • 51st Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1972-1-17 to 1972-1-21
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 7-14
• Monograph Title: Planting and managing highway roadsides
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 411
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fertilization (Horticulture); Grasses; Planting; Roadside improvement; Seasons; Slope stability; Slopes; Soil stabilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Fertilization
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00205226
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309020832
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 7 1973 12:00AM