REPORT ON TURF GRASSES AND LEGUMES AND TURF ESTABLISHMENT
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HIGHWAY ALONG GULF SHORES IN SOUTH ALABAMA POSED A SERIOUS PROBLEM OF SHOULDER AND SLOPE STABILIZATION DUE TO THE STERILITY OF THE SOIL, THE ACTION OF SALT SPRAY AND DRIFTING SAND. THE SLOPES AND BACK SLOPES OF PURE SAND WERE THE AREAS OF THE PROBLEM. AN OBSERVATIONAL PROJECT WAS OUTLINED TO TRY SEVERAL GRASSES AND LEGUMES. THE SLOPES WERE HEAVILY FERTILIZED WITH BASIC SLAG, COMPLETE FERTILIZER, AND SPRIGGED OR SEEDED. EACH GRASS SEEDING WAS OVERLAPPED BY A LEGUME SEEDING. THE SEEDING CONSISTED OF PENSACOLA BAHIAGRASS, RESCUEGRASS, COASTAL BERMUDA GRASS, PENSACOLA CARPET GRASS, AND WEEPING LOVEGRASS. HAIRY INDIGO, PARTRIDGE PEAS, AND BLANKET INDIGO WERE USED AS COMPANION LEGUME CROPS. THEY WERE SOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PRE-ARRANGED SCHEDULE. THE COASTAL BERMUDA GRASS AND THE PENSACOLA CARPET GRASS WERE SPRIGGED. AT THE EXTREME EDGE OF THE BACK SLOPES A CONTINUOUS SINGLE ROW OF NATIVE GRASSES WERE SPRIGGED. SINCE THE SECOND YEAR THE PENSACOLA BAHIAGRASS HAS PERSISTED AND MADE RELATIVELY GREATER GROWTH AND PROVIDED MORE STABILIZATION THAN ANYTHING ELSE. PENSACOLA BAHIAGRASS WAS DISCOVERED IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, GROWING IN PARTICULARLY PURE BEACH SAND IN THE EARLY 1930'S. IT IS A PERENNIAL SUMMER GRASS. IT IS ABLE TO ENDURE VERY LOW FERTILITY LEVELS BUT RESPONDS RAPIDLY TO GOOD TREATMENT. IT HAS LONG NARROW LEAVES. IT SPREADS SLOWLY BY RUNNERS ON THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND AND HAS A DEEP AND EXTENSIVE FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM. IT IS HIGHLY DROUGHT-RESISTANT AND FORMS A SOD. THE SEED STEMS AVERAGE 24 INCH. IT HAS ENDURED TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS 0 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. IT PRODUCES A LARGE CROP OF GOOD SEED. IT IS A GRASS VERY SLOW TO DEVELOP FROM SEED, GENERALLY REQUIRING A YEAR TO ESTABLISH A SOD. IT MUST BE ESTABLISHED WITH A NURSE CROP FOR MAXIMUM STABILIZATION AGAINST EROSION. /AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- No 222, pp 27-29, 1 TAB. 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.
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Authors:
- Young, W C
- Publication Date: 1952
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
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Serial:
- Highway Research Board Roadside Development Committee Reports
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Grasses; Legumes; Road shoulders; Seas; Slope stability; Slopes; Soil stabilization; Turf
- Old TRIS Terms: Marine atmospheres; Shoulder stabilization
- Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00205049
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Nov 15 1971 12:00AM