MICROCLIMATE CONDITIONS FOUND ON HIGHWAY SLOPE FACINGS AS RELATED TO ADAPTION OF SPECIES

THE DIRECTION IN WHICH A HIGHWAY SLOPE FACES AFFECTS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND STAND SURVIVAL OF SOD ALONG HIGHWAYS. SLOPE EXPOSURE ALSO AFFECTS THE ADAPTION OF PLANT SPECIES USED AS SOD. MICROCLIMATE IS ALTERED BY ORIENTATIONS OF THE SOIL SURFACE WITH RESPECT TO THE SUN. MEASUREMENTS OF MICRO- CLIMATE CONDITIONS WERE MADE ON SLOPE FACINGS AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE SEASON AND UNDER SEVERAL CONDITIONS OF PLANT COVER. CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WERE FOUND BETWEEN SOIL SURFACE TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT INTENSITY, DENSITY OF SOD, PLANT COVER CLIPPING HEIGHT, AND THE DIRECTION TOWARDS WHICH THE SLOPE FACES. THERE WAS LITTLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEMPERATURE 3 FEET ABOVE THE SOIL AND AT THE SOIL SURFACE. SLOPE FACINGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN SELECTING SPECIES, MULCHES, AND FERTILIZERS FOR TURF ESTABLISHMENT. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FAVORABLE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SOUTH-FACING SLOPES MIGHT BE SEEDED EARLIER IN THE SPRING AND LATER IN THE FALL THAN NORTH-FACING SLOPES.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1965/93/93-005.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:
  • McKee Jr, W H
  • Powell Jr, A J
  • Cooper, R B
  • Blaser, R E
• Publication Date: 1965

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 38-43
• Monograph Title: Roadside development
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 93
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Density; Facings; Fertilizers; Grasses; Height; Highways; Landscape design; Lighting; Mowing; Mulches; Planting; Plants; Psychological adaptation; Seasons; Slopes; Soils; Surface temperature; Temperature
• Uncontrolled Terms: Intensity; Microclimate; Orientation; Selecting; Sod
• Old TRIS Terms: Direction; Establishing; Light /illumination/; Plant cover; Soil temperature; Vegetation selection
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00204577
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 12 1994 12:00AM