PRODUCING VEGETATION ON HIGHWAY SLOPES CONCURRENTLY WITH AND SUBSEQUENT TO HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

Experiments on slopes in West Virginia highway corridors were established to ascertain methods of producing vegetative covers quickly during all seasons of the year. Presistent vegetation was established on stair-step graded cut slopes in one seeding operation compared to bench cut slopes which usually required two or more seedings. Uncompacted fill slope surfaces prevented erosion of approximately 400 tons of soil material/A during a torrential rain. A two- to four-fold increase in the amount of vegetative cover was obtained when seeded on fill slope surfaces left uncompacted or roughened with a sheeps foot roller rather than compacting similar slopes with a dozer. Soil chemical binders applied without woodfiber or straw were unsatisfactory for establishing a vegetative cover. The addition of soil chemical binders to woodfiber generally did not significantly enhance the persistence of woodfiber or the rate and amount of vegetation established as compared to woodfiber without a soil chemical binder. Woodfiber @ 750 lbs/A was equal or superior to asphalt or other chemiclas for tacking straw. German millet or weeping lovegrass in summer seed mixtures provided a vegetative cover quickly and controlled erosion while Kentucky 31 fescue and crownvetch became established. Persistent vegetation was established by overseeding into temporary vegetation. Establishing woody species from seed is also discussed. /FHWA/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Highways and prepared in cooperation with Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

  Department of Agronomy
  Blacksburg, VA  United States  24061
• Authors:
  • Perry, H D
  • Wright, D L
  • Blaser, R E
• Publication Date: 1975-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 97 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Embankments; Erosion control; Planting; Plants; Road construction; Roadside flora; Shrubs; Vegetation
• Old TRIS Terms: Crownvetch; Plant cover
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00144133
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-WV-75-2 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: HPR 40
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 1 1977 12:00AM