PRINCIPLES OF MAKING TURF MIXTURES FOR ROADSIDE SEEDINGS

HIGHWAY SEEDINGS MADE UP OF A MIXTURE OF SEVERAL SPECIES ARE USED BECAUSE THE CHANCE OF OBTAINING A GOOD SOD IS IMPROVED. A SPECIES SHOULD BE USED IN A MIXTURE ONLY IF IT MAKES A CONTRIBUTION FOR ESTABLISHMENT, OR FOR MAINTAINING A DESIRABLE PERENNIAL SOD ALONG ROADSIDES. ONE REASON FOR USING MORE THAN ONE SPECIES IN A MIXTURE IS THAT GERMINATION, GROWTH AND SOD SURVIVAL AMONG TURF GRASSES AND LEGUMES DIFFER WITH SODS AND THE MICROCLIMATE IN THE SEEDLING COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, BLUEGRASS AND REDTOP RESPOND QUITE DIFFERENTLY WITH SEASON OF SOWING. TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE STATUS CANNOT BE PREDICTED BECAUSE OF VARIATIONS IN SEEDING DATES, SLOPE EXPOSURE, SOIL CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE. JUST AFTER SEEDING WHEN GERMINATION AND GROWTH PROCESSES BEGIN, THE SEEDLINGS ENCOUNTER AN INTERPLAY OF ALL THE UNPREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SIMULTANEOUSLY. SOME TURF PLANTS RESPOND IN GERMINATION AND GROWTH TO VARIABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS MORE FAVORABLY THAN OTHERS. ANOTHER REASON FOR USING SEVERAL TURF SPECIES IN A MIXED SEEDING IS THAT SOME VERY DESIRABLE PERENNIAL SPECIES ARE SLOW TO ESTABLISH EVEN UNDER VERY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS. WHEN SPECIES THAT ARE SLOW TO MAKE SOD ARE USED, IT IS NECESSARY TO USE COMPANION GRASSES IN THE MIXTURES IN ORDER TO CONTROL EROSION WHILE SLOW GROWERS GET ESTABLISHED.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1963/23/23-014.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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:
  • Blaser, R E
• Publication Date: 1963

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 79-84
• Monograph Title: Roadside development
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 23
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Environment; Erosion control; Grasses; Legumes; Mixtures; Moisture content; Planting; Roadside; Seasons; Slopes; Soils; Temperature; Turf; Urban growth; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sod; Soil conditions
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00204573
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 28 1994 12:00AM