LIME AND FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS AS RELATED TO TURF ESTABLISHMENT ALONG THE ROADSIDE

PRESENT PRACTICES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GRASSES AND LEGUMES ON ILLINOIS HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF-WAY WHICH INCLUDE THE USE OF BLANKET LIME AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ARE REVIEWED. ONE HUNDRED THIRTY SOIL SAMPLES WERE TAKEN AT 80 SITES ON HIGHWAY ROADSIDES IN ILLINOIS. THESE SAMPLES WERE OBTAINED FROM RAW CUTS ON NEW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OR WELL- ESTABLISHED ROADSIDES WHERE THE FERTILITY STATUS OF THE SOIL HAD NOT BEEN ALTERED IN RECENT YEARS. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SOIL TESTING LABORATORY ANALYZED ALL OF THE SOIL SAMPLES FOR TOTAL AND AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS, AVAILABLE POTASSIUM, AND PH. THE SOIL TEST DATA SHOW THAT MOST OF THE SITES DO NOT NEED LIME, BUT THE MAJORITY DO REQUIRE PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN. THE APPLICATION OF LIME TO THOSE SITES THAT ARE HIGH IN LIME MAY CAUSE A TIE-UP OF ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS SUCH AS PHOSPHORUS, AND ALSO INCREASE LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS. AS A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO SUCH A FERTILITY PROBLEM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOIL TESTS TAKEN PRIOR TO SEEDING COULD BE UTILILIZED BY THOSE CONCERNED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GRASSES ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO DEVELOP AN ADEQUATE FERTILITY PROGRAM FOR GRASS ESTABLISHMENT. THIS RESEARCH EFFORT INDICATES THAT OVER-LIMING HAS OCCURRED ON MANY ROADSIDES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A PH TEST USING PH 5.5 AS A MINIMUM PH COULD BE USED TO DETERMINE THE LIME REQUIREMENT.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1964/53/53-006.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:
  • Curry, R J
  • Foote, L E
  • Andrews Jr, O N
  • Jackobs, J A
• Publication Date: 1964

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: pp 26-29
• Monograph Title: Roadside development 1963
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 53
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium oxide; Fertilizers; Grasses; Highways; Legumes; pH value; Phosphorus; Planting; Potassium; Reviews; Sampling; Soil tests; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Right of way
• Old TRIS Terms: Blanket lime; Establishing; Lime requirement; Soil sampling
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00204584
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 1 1994 12:00AM