davis+hilvers_9-21-15_ieca presentation (pub) (1)

Evaluation of Roadside Vegetation for

Erosion Control in West Virginia

Eric M. Davis, GRA Leslie Hopkinson, PI

George Hilvers, GRA

Joseph Cottrill, URA

Adam Strong, URA

Joanna Graham, URA

1

Introduction

• Typical issues with roadsides

in West Virginia

– Rock falls

– Bare slopes

– Erosion

– Poor vegetative growth

• Factors leading to issues

− Variability in soil type and

quality

− Various elevation changes

− Steep slopes

2

Introduction

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

(NPDES) permit

– Requires 70% average vegetated cover for permit to

be released

• Currently, little follow up exists on the long term

vegetation establishment

3

Objective: Determine the effectiveness of current

reclamation methods at roadside and median locations of

highways in West Virginia.

4

• Improve reclamation practices to provide better

vegetative cover to prevent erosion and unvegetated

slopes

• Capture a wide range of locations:

- Medians

- Soil types

- Seed mixtures

- Slopes

- Aspects

- Climates

Methods: Roadsides and medians were sampled

between 17 June and 8 August, 2014, and 9 July

and 10 July, 2015.

5

Methods: Data Collection

• Vegetation Cover

• Slope

• Aspect

• Location and Elevation

• Compaction

• Soil Sample

6



– Subplot selection

• Randomly selected using methods adapted from

Elzinga et. al. (1998).

7



– Percent cover evaluated with a 1m x 1m grid

– Portable point frame was composed of 100

intersections

8


• Slope

– Steepness of each site was

measured with a Suunto PM-5

Clinometer

• Aspect

– Slope exposure determined using a

Suunto A-10 Recreational Compass


– Measured using a Garmin etrex 20

handheld GPS

9


• Compaction

– Compaction tests performed using agraTronix Soil

Compaction Tester

• Penetrometer complies to ASAE S313.3

10


• Soil Sample

– Soil samples were collected following procedures by

West Virginia University Soil Testing Laboratory

(2007) for lawn and turf.

– Soil samples analyzed for pH,

nutrients, minerals, and texture

11

Methods: Cover Classes

12

• Sites are required to have 70% cover in order to be

released from NPDES permit.

– Cover classes help easily identify sites that have

adequate vegetative cover.

• Aid in determining the effectiveness of WVDOH’s site

reclamation procedures.

• Cover Class Ranges:

– Class I (0-50%)

– Class II (50-70%)

– Class III (70-90%)

– Class IV (90-100%)

Results:

Cover Class I

13

− Class I (0-50%)

Results:

Cover Class II

14

− Class II (50-70%)

Results:

Cover Class III

15

− Class III (70-90%)

Results:

Cover Class IV

16

− Class IV (90-100%)

Results: 30% of the sites examined in this study had

excellent mean cover of greater than 90%.

17

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Cla

ss I

V (

90-1

00%

)

CH

-5b

R1

9

EB

B

PB

I68W

C

I64B

CF

E

MF

E-1

CH

-5a

CH

-3

Cla

ss I

II (

70-9

0%

)

SM

N

*C

HM

-2

27

9-1

a

I64

R1

93

EA

R9

-2

FG

C

Cla

ss I

I (5

0-7

0%

)

R9

-1

SM

S

27

9-2

MF

E-2

47

INT

a

*C

HM

-1

*I6

8M

Cla

ss I

(0

-50%

)

27

9-1

b

CH

-2a

CH

-2b

47

INT

b

BH

CH

-1

R5

2

CH

-4

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Site Abbreviation

IV III II I

Results: 24% of the sites examined in this study had

poor mean cover of less than 50%.

18

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Cla

ss I

V (

90-1

00%

)

CH

-5b

R1

9

EB

B

PB

I68W

C

I64B

CF

E

MF

E-1

CH

-5a

CH

-3

Cla

ss I

II (

70-9

0%

)

SM

N

*C

HM

-2

27

9-1

a

I64

R1

93

EA

R9

-2

FG

C

Cla

ss I

I (5

0-7

0%

)

R9

-1

SM

S

27

9-2

MF

E-2

47

INT

a

*C

HM

-1

*I6

8M

Cla

ss I

(0

-50%

)

27

9-1

b

CH

-2a

CH

-2b

47

INT

b

BH

CH

-1

R5

2

CH

-4

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Site Abbreviation

IV III II I

Results: 55% of the sites examined in this study met

the required 70% for permit release.

19

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Cla

ss I

V (

90-1

00%

)

CH

-5b

R1

9

EB

B

PB

I68W

C

I64B

CF

E

MF

E-1

CH

-5a

CH

-3

Cla

ss I

II (

70-9

0%

)

SM

N

*C

HM

-2

27

9-1

a

I64

R1

93

EA

R9

-2

FG

C

Cla

ss I

I (5

0-7

0%

)

R9

-1

SM

S

27

9-2

MF

E-2

47

INT

a

*C

HM

-1

*I6

8M

Cla

ss I

(0

-50%

)

27

9-1

b

CH

-2a

CH

-2b

47

INT

b

BH

CH

-1

R5

2

CH

-4

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Site Abbreviation

IV III II I

Results: Common species included tall fescue and

crownvetch.

Also observed:

• White clover*

• Annual ryegrass*

• Red fescue*

• Weeping lovegrass*

• Serecia lespedeza*

• Birdsfoot trefoil

• Red clover

• Coltsfoot

• Buckhorn plantain

20

21

Crownvetch Example of Observed Species

White

Clover

Narrow

Leaf

Buckhorn

Plantain

Birdsfoot Trefoil

Red Clover

22

Example of Observed Species

Coltsfoot Annual

Ryegrass

23

Crownvetch Example of Observed Species

Sericea

Lespedeza Kentucky 31

Fescue

Results:

Parameter I II III IV

OM (%) a (0.9-1.7) a (0.7-1.8) b (1.5-2.4) b (0.7-4.3)

SS (mmhos/cm) a (0.36-1.54) ab (0.08-1.15) bc (0.21-0.81) c (0.09-0.41)

N (ppm) a (1-6) a (1-4) ab (1-6) b (3-17)

pH* a (4-9.7) a (5.7-9.6) a (5.2-8.4) a (5.8-8.2)

*Parameter shows no correlations to long term vegetative establishment between cover classes

24

• The worst performing locations had low levels of OM and

high levels of SS.

• Nitrogen was the only macronutrient found to have a

positive correlation to vegetation cover

• pH had no linear correlation, but sites with soils within

optimal pH range had greater cover.

Results:

25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0

Per

cen

t C

over

pH

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 5 10 15 20

Per

cen

t C

over

Nitrogen (ppm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Soluble Salt (mmhos/cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 1 2 3 4 5

Per

cen

t C

over

Percent Organic Matter (%)

Results: Aspect

26

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 100 200 300 400

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Aspect (º)

• Local percent cover was greatest on eastern facing slopes

− Only 4% of local slopes faced east

27

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 20 40 60 80

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Slope (%)

Results: Slope

• Limited statistical differences observed between cover

classes as defined by slope

28

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0 1000 2000 3000

Per

cen

t C

over

(%

)

Elevation (ft)

Results: Elevation


classes as defined by elevation

29

Results: Compaction


classes as defined by compaction

Conclusions:

30

• Establishing long-term vegetation cover is difficult due to

poor soil and site conditions.

• These results concluded that challenges faced at time of

establishment continue long term.

• 30% of the sites had excellent mean cover (>90%); 24%

percent of the sites were poorly covered (<50%).

• Only 55% of observed sites met the required 70% cover.

Conclusions:

31

• High soluble salt levels and low fertility were present at

sites with low vegetation.

• Crownvetch was not observed at locations with high

soluble salts, leading to poor mean vegetation cover.

• The most observed species, tall fescue (Festuca

arundinacea) and crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), are

considered invasive but provided the majority of ground

cover.

Crownvetch Tall Fescue

Recommendations:

32

• Proper seedbed preparation should be a high priority

• Continued maintenance should be required to overcome

initial challenges

• Soil testing should be mandatory due to expense of

mitigating pH levels.

• Site specific seed mixtures may lead to improved

revegetation success.

Thank You! • Special thanks go to Charlie Riling for all of his continued

help and support throughout the duration of the project.

• Donald Williams

• Michael Pumphrey

• WVDOH

• Undergraduate Research Assistants;

– Joseph Cottrill

– Adam Strong

– Joanna Graham

33

Questions ?

34

Development of Erosion Control

Seed Mixtures

35

George Hilvers, GRA Leslie Hopkinson, PI

Objectives:

• Seed Mixtures

– Economical and price competitive

– Specifically designed for West Virginia

• Vegetation Species

– Low invasiveness or native

– Erosion control or pioneer species

– Inhabits West Virginia

36

Current Seed Mixtures:

• DOH Type B: Medians, Shoulders, Waterways, and

Mowable Areas of Interchange

• DOH Type D: Cut and Fill Slopes

37

DOH Type B: Medians, shoulders, waterways, and

mowable areas of interchange

Type B Rate

(lb/ac)

Cost (/lb) Threat

Level

Description

Kentucky 31 fescue 65 $1.20 1 Graminoid

Red fescue 20 $1.80 N/A Graminoid

White Dutch clover 3 $3.80 3 Legume

Annual ryegrass 7 $0.60 N/A Nurse crop

OR

Weeping lovegrass 3 $8.00 3 Nurse crop

Total: $150/acre

38

DOH Type B: Medians, shoulders, waterways, and

mowable areas of interchange

39

DOH Type D: Cut and Fill Slopes

Type D Rate

(lb/ac)

Cost (/lb) Threat

Level

Description

Kentucky 31 fescue 20 $1.20 1 Graminoid

Red fescue 20 $1.80 N/A Graminoid

Crownvetch 20 $30.00 1 Legume

Annual ryegrass 7 $0.60 N/A Nurse crop

OR

Weeping lovegrass 3 $8.00 3 Nurse crop

Total: $684/acre

40

DOH Type D: Cut and Fill Slopes

41

Proposed Seed Mixtures:

• Type A: Mowable Areas

• Type B: Warm Season

• Type C: Cool Season

• Type D: High Elevation (>2,400 ft)

• Type E: Wet Areas

42

WV Characteristics for Species Selection:

• Preferences

– Occurs in ¾ ecoregions

• Ecoregions Map

– 4 ecoregions

– 3 main ecoregions

43


• Preferences

– Occurs in all elevation ranges

• Elevation Map

– 5 main zones

– 240 ft. to 4,863 ft.

– Average elevation of 1,500 ft.

44


• Preferences

– Occurs in multiple precipitation

zones

• Precipitation Map

– 5 main zones

– 31-72 inches

45


• Preferences

– Occurs in various soil medias

• Soils Map

– Diverse soil compositions

46


• Preferences

– Occurs in both watersheds

• Watersheds Map

– Ohio River

– Chesapeake Bay

47


• Preferences

– Occurs in 25/55 counties

48

Type A: Mowable Areas

Type A Rate

(lb/ac)

Cost

(/lb)

Classification Description

Autumn Bentgrass 10 $14.00 Native Graminoid

Chewing’s Fescue 25 $21.10 Non-Native Graminoid

Hard Fescue ‘Chariot’ 35 $2.80 Non-Native Graminoid

Hard Fescue ‘Heron’ 35 $2.80 Non-Native Graminoid

Creeping Red Fescue 55 $1.50 Non-Native Graminoid

White Clover 3 $3.80 Non-Native Legume

Total: $482/acre

49

• Medians, shoulders, and lawns

Graminoids:

• Autumn Bentgrass (Agrostis

perennans)

– Native to WV

– Damp to dry soils

• Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca

rubra)

– Bunch grass

– Soil and site stabilization

– Resistant to wear

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database /

USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant

species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.)

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-

NRCS PLANTS Database)

50

• Chewing’s Fescue (Festuca rubra

ssp. commutata)

– Used for erosion control

– Bunch grass

• Hard Fescue ‘Heron’ & ‘Chariot’

(Festuca ovina var. duriuscula &

Festuca brevipila)

– Perennial bunch grass

– Erosion control along roadways

– Drought resistant

– Long lifespan

Graminoids:

(Clarence Kelly, USDA-NRCS)

51

Legume:

• White Clover (Trifolium repens)

– Perennial

– Fixate nitrogen


52

Type A: Mowable Areas

53

Type B: Warm Season (Cut/Fill)

Type B Rate (lb/ac) Cost (/lb) Classification Description

Common Oat 30 $0.25 Non-native Nurse crop

Big Bluestem 6.0 $10.00 Native Graminoid

Virginia Wildrye 8.4 $8.00 Native Graminoid

Autumn Bentgrass 3.7 $14.00 Native Graminoid

Switchgrass 6.4 $5.00 Native Graminoid

Indiangrass 14 $18.00 Native Graminoid

Partridge Pea 1.0 $10.00 Native Legume

Back-Eyed Susan 0.6 $24.00 Native Forb

Narrowleaf Mountainmint 0.1 $80.00 Native Forb

Wild Bergamot 0.5 $96.00 Native Forb

Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil 0.4 $48.00 Native Forb

Smooth Oxeye 0.4 $20.00 Native Forb

Flat-top Goldentop 0.1 $400.00 Native Forb

Total: $618 /acre

54

Nurse Crop:

• Common Oat (Avena sativa)

– Annual

– Nurse crop for erosion control

– Winter kills

– Spring/Summer planting

• Cereal rye (Secal cereale)

– Annual


– Grows in cold conditions

– Fall/Winter planting

(USDA-NRCS)

(Jose Hernandez, hosted by the USDA-


55

Graminoids:

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

– Perennial warm season

bunchgrass

– 6-8 feet tall

– Does well in low fertility

– Strong seeding vigor

• Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus)

– Cool season bunchgrass

– Self-fertilizes

– Grows in moist conditions

(Jennifer Anderson, hosted by the USDA-


(Alan Shadow, USDA-NRCS)

56

Graminoids:


perenans)


– Poor salt and drought tolerance

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)


bunchgrass

– Erosion control for critical areas

– Grows in large clumps

– 3-5 feet tall

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA

SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South

National Technical Center, Fort Worth.)

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database /

USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office guide to plant

species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.)

57

Graminoids:

• Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)


bunchgrass

– Erosion control along roadsides


– 3-7 feet tall

(Jennifer Anderson, hosted by the

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

58

Legume:

• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista

fasiculata)

– Annual

– Erosion control along road banks

– 1-3 feet tall

– Inoculate before planting

(R. Alan Shadow, USDA-NRCS)

59

Forbs:

• Black-Eyed Susan (Rubeckia hirta)

– Biannual

– Erosion control along roadcuts

– Component in critical area

treatment

• Smooth Oxeye (Heliopsis

helianthoides)

– Perennial

– Plant winter, fall, or spring

– Hardy plant

– Found along roadsides and waste

areas

(USDA-NRCS)

(Christine Taliga, USDA-NRCS)

60

Forbs:

• Wild Bergamot (Mondarda fistulosa)

– Perennial

– Spreads through seed and

rhizomes

– Beautification and ecological

benefit

• Narrowleaf Mountainmint

(Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

– Warm season perennial

– Soil stabilizing species

– Quick spread through rhizomes


SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species.

Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.)


NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West

Region, Sacramento.)

61

Forbs:

• Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil (Desmodium

paniculatum)

– Perennial

– Nitrogen fixation

– Pioneer species


• Flat-top Goldentop (Euthamia

graminifolia)

– Perennial

– Found along roadways and

ditches

– Tolerates poor soils and drought


NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989.

Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated

guide to plant species. Midwest National

Technical Center, Lincoln.)

62

Type B: Warm Season

63

Type C: Cool Season (Cut/Fill)

Type C Rate

(lb/ac)

Cost

(/lb)


Redtop 4 $10.00 Non-Native Graminoid

Hard Fescue ‘Heron’ 10 $2.80 Non-Native Graminoid

Hard Fescue ‘Chariot’ 10 $2.80 Non-Native Graminoid

Creeping Red Fescue 16 $1.50 Non-Native Graminoid

White Clover 7 $3.80 Non-Native Legume

Bird’s Foot Trefoil 8 $5.25 Non-Native Legume

Total: $189/acre

64

Graminoids:

• Redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

– Perennial

– Erosion control

– Critical area stabilization

– Low fertility requirements

• Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca

rubra)

– Bunch grass

– Soil and site stabilization

– Resistant to wear



65

• Hard Fescue ‘Heron’ & ‘Chariot’

(Festuca ovina var. duriuscula &

Festuca brevipila)


– Erosion control along roadways

– Drought resistant

– Long lifespan

Graminoids:

(Clarence Kelly, USDA-NRCS)

66

Legume:

• White Clover (Trifolium repens)

– Perennial



• Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus

corniculatus)

– Perennial

– Long lifespan

– Used for erosion control along

roadways

– Nitrogen fixation (Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA-NRCS)

67

Type C: Cool Season

68

Type D1: High Elevation (≤3:1) (>2,400 ft)

Type D1 Rate (lb/ac) Cost (/lb) Classification Description

Common Oat 30 $0.25 Non-native Nurse crop

Big Bluestem 2.5 $10.00 Native Graminoid



Deertongue 2.0 $18.00 Native Graminoid

Little Bluestem 6.5 $24.00 Native Graminoid


Back-Eyed Susan 0.6 $24.00 Native Forb

Smooth Oxeye 0.4 $20.00 Native Forb

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod 0.2 $280.00 Native Forb

Narrowleaf Mountainmint 0.1 $80.00 Native Forb


Flat-top Goldentop 0.1 $400.00 Native Forb

Total: $448/acre

69

Nurse Crop:

• Common Oat (Avena sativa)

– Annual


– Winter kills

– Spring/Summer planting

• Cereal rye (Secal cereale)

– Annual


– Grows in cold conditions

– Fall/Winter planting

(USDA-NRCS)

(Jose Hernandez, hosted by the USDA-


70

Graminoids:

• Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)


bunchgrass

– 6-8 feet tall

– Does well in low fertility




– Self-fertilizes





71

Graminoids:


perenans)


– Poor salt and drought tolerance

• Deertongue (Dichanthelium

clandestinum)


– Tolerates low fertility and acidic

soils

– Protects soil during winter with a

mat of vegetation

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS

Database / USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora: Field office

guide to plant species. Northeast National Technical Center, Chester.)

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, USDA-NRCS)

72

Graminoids:

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium

scoparium)

– Warm season

– Drought tolerant


– Grows in a wide range of soils

(L. Glasscock, USDA-NRCS)

73

Legume:

• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista

fasiculata)

– Annual

– Erosion control along road banks

– 1-3 feet tall


(R. Alan Shadow, USDA-NRCS)

74

Forbs:

• Black-Eyed Susan (Rubeckia hirta)

– Biannual

– Erosion control along roadcuts

– Component in critical area

treatment

• Smooth Oxeye (Heliopsis

helianthoides)

– Perennial

– Plant winter, fall, or spring

– Hardy plant

– Found along roadsides and waste

areas

(USDA-NRCS)

(Christine Taliga, USDA-NRCS)

75

Forbs:

• Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago

rugosa)

– Found along roadsides

– Tolerant of shade and drought

• Narrowleaf Mountainmint

(Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)


– Soil stabilizing species

– Quick spread through rhizomes


SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species.

Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.)

(USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database)

76

Forbs:

• Panicledleaf Ticktrefoil (Desmodium

paniculatum)

– Perennial


– Pioneer species


• Flat-top Goldentop (Euthamia

graminifolia)

– Perennial

– Found along roadways and

ditches

– Tolerates poor soils and drought


NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989.

Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated

guide to plant species. Midwest National

Technical Center, Lincoln.)

77

Type D1: High Elevation (≤3:1)

78

Type D2: High Elevation (>3:1)(>2,400 ft)

Type D2 Rate (lb/ac) Cost (/lb) Classification Description

Oats 30 $0.25 Non-native Nurse crop

Big Bluestem 4 $10.00 Native Graminoid



Deertongue 8 $18.00 Native Graminoid

Little Bluestem 15 $24.00 Native Graminoid


Backeyed Susan 0.6 $24.00 Native Forb

Oxeye Sunflower 0.4 $20.00 Native Forb

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod 0.2 $280.00 Native Forb

Slender Mountainmint 0.1 $80.00 Native Forb


Grassleaf Goldenrod 0.1 $400.00 Native Forb

Total: $848/acre

79

Type E: Wet Areas

Type E Rate

(lb/ac)

Cost

(/lb)


Fox Sedge 4.0 $24.00 Native Graminoid

Fowl Bluegrass 3.5 $10.00 Native Graminoid

Redtop Panicgrass 4.0 $48.00 Native Graminoid

Common Rush 0.5 $66.00 Native Graminoid


Shallow Sedge 3.0 $64.00 Native Graminoid

Blue Vervain 0.8 $40.00 Native Forb

Wingstem 0.2 $180.00 Native Forb

Total: $648/acre

80

• Ditches, retention basins, and moist or saturated soil

conditions

Graminoids:

• Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

– Bunch-forming perennial

– Spreads quickly

– Pioneer wetland colonizer

• Fowl Bluegrass (Poa palustris)

– Cool season bunch grass

– Develops quickly

– Found in moist soils (Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database /

USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland

flora: Field office guide to plant species.

West Region, Sacramento.)

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database /

USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland

flora: Field office illustrated guide to

plant species. Midwest National

Technical Center, Lincoln..)

81

Graminoids:

• Redtop Panicgrass (Panicum

rigidulum)

– Common wetland species

• Common Rush (Juncus effusus)


– Deep root system

– Inhabits ditches and wet

meadows

– Tolerates a variety of site

characteristics

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS

PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest

wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant

species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln.)

82

Graminoids:



– Self-fertilizes


• Shallow Sedge (Carex lurida)

– Bunchgrass

(Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS

PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland

flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest

National Technical Center, Lincoln.)


83

Forbs:

• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

– Perennial

– Spreads through rhizomes

– Grows in disturbed areas

• Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)

– Occurs along roadsides

– Vigorous growth

– Prefers moist soils



84

Mixture Comparison:

Mixture Nurse Crop Graminoid Legume Forb Seeding Rate

(lb/acre) Price

($/acre)

DOH Medians 2 2 1 0 91 $150.00

DOH Cut/Fill 2 2 1 0 63 $684.00

Mowable Areas 0 5 1 0 163 $482.00

Warm Season 2 5 1 6 71.5 $618.00

Cool Season 0 4 2 0 55 $189.00

High Elevation (D1) 2 5 1 6 50.3 $448.00

High Elevation (D2) 2 5 1 6 73.3 $848.00

Wet Areas 0 6 0 2 20 $648.00

Seed Mixtures Conclusions:

• Mowable Areas

– Replaces 3 current DOH mixtures

– Low invasiveness

• Warm Season (Cut/Fill)

– $66 less per acre and native

• Cool Season (Cut/Fill)

– $495 less per acre and low invasiveness

• Wet Areas

– Address specific concerns and price competitive

86

Thank You! • Mark Fiely, Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc.

• Elizabeth Byers, WVDEP

• West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

• West Virginia Division of Highways

87

Questions?

88

Testing Experimental Mixtures in

the Field

89

George Hilvers, GRA Leslie Hopkinson, PI

Eric Davis, GRA

Adam Strong, URA

Joanna Graham, URA

Objectives:

• Overall Objective – Evaluate if seed mixtures that include native species can be applied to

roadside reclamation

• Objective 1 – Compare proposed seed mixtures to current standard

• Objective 2 – Evaluate need of a high elevation seed mixture

• Objective 3 – Determine if seed bed preparation influences seed germination and

cover

• Objective 4 – Evaluate performance of soil media and amendments

90

Field Site Selection:

• Along Corridor H

• Three selected

locations

• Two treatments

located at CH-1

location

91

Methods: Data Collection and monitoring

Data collection


• Slope

• Aspect


• Compaction

• Soil samples

• Soil moisture, EC, and

temperature

92

Objective 1: Compare proposed seed mixtures to

current standard

• Located at Fish Pond Road

• Site location named CH-1A

• Three replications

93

• 846 ft. elevation

• 6% slope

• 1.5 %OM

• 7.3 pH

Objective 1 Methods:

• Take soil sample for analysis

• Remove existing vegetation

• Till soil and remove debris

• Re-compact soil

• Scarify soil surface

• Install grid system and sensors

94


• Apply 6.61 lbs of 10-10-10 Fertilizer

• Spread seed to individual subplots

• HECP application of ProMatrix

95

(Photo by Profile Products, Adam Dibble/Matt Welch)

96

Objective 1 Progression:

Hydromulch 3.5 weeks

4.5 weeks 10.5 weeks

97

Objective 1 Site Picture at 90 Days:

98

High

Elevation

Cool

Season

Warm

Season

DOH

Cut/Fill

DOH

Medians

Mowable

Areas

Objective 1 Results:

• 85% cover achieved within 5.5

weeks for all mixtures

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

DOH Medians DOH Cut/Fill Mowable Areas Warm Season Cool Season High Elevation

Per

cen

t C

ov

er (

%)

6/3/2015

6/19/2015

7/1/2015

7/16/2015

7/28/2015

8/11/2015

8/24/2015

99

Objective 1 Results Eight Days After Planting:

• Non-native mixtures had greater cover compared to

native mixtures

100

Native

Mixtures

Objective 1 Results Ninety Days After Planting:

• All mixtures met 99% cover after 90 days

101

Native

Mixtures

Objective 2: Evaluate need of a high elevation

seed mixture

• Located adjacent to Mt. Storm

Power Plant

• Site location named CH-2


102

• 3,297 ft. elevation

• 4% slope

• 2.7% OM

• 6.4 pH

• Rocky soil


• Take soil sample for analysis



• Re-compact soil


• Install grid system and sensors

103


• Applied 5.51 lbs of 5-10-10 Fertilizer


• HECP application

104


Site Prep Hydromulch


105


106

High

Elevation

Mowable

Areas

Cool

Season

Warm

Season

DOH

Medians


• 70% cover achieved only by non-native mixtures

• Legumes dominate

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

DOH Medians Mowable Areas Warm Season Cool Season High Elevation

Per

cen

t C

ov

er (

%)

6/3/2015

6/19/2015

7/1/2015

7/16/2015

7/28/2015

8/11/2015

8/24/2015

107



native mixtures

108

Native Mixtures



native mixtures

109

Native Mixtures

Objective 3: Determine if seed bed preparation

influence seed germination and cover

• Located adjacent to runaway

truck ramp

• Site location named CH-3

• Two replications

110

• 1,840 ft. elevation

• 15% slope

• 1 % OM

• 8.1 pH


• Take soil samples for analysis



• Install grid system

• Install Topsoil

111


• Re-compact soil


• Install sensors

112


• Applied 5.51 lbs of 5-10-10 Fertilizer to subsoil

• Applied 8.7 lbs of 10-10-10 Fertilizer to topsoil


113


• HECP, straw, and tackifier application

114


Hydromulch and Straw


115


116

Warm

Season

DOH

Medians

Cool

Season


• 70% cover achieved by all seed mixtures

• Shallow slope may be why we see no difference between

treatments

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

DOH

Medians

(TS, HP)

DOH

Medians

(NTS, HP)

DOH

Medians

(TS,S)

DOH

Medians

(NTS,S)

Warm

Season

(TS, HP)

Warm

Season

(NTS, HP)

Warm

Season

(TS,S)

Warm

Season

(NTS,S)

Cool

Season

(TS, HP)

Cool

Season

(NTS, HP)

Cool

Season

(TS,S)

Cool

Season

(NTS,S)

Per

cen

t C

ov

er (

%)

6/3/2015

6/19/2015

7/1/2015

7/16/2015

7/28/2015

8/11/2015

8/24/2015

117



native mixture

118

Native Mixture


• Tested, but did not find any differences between

seedbed preparations

119

Native Mixture

Objective 4: Evaluate performance of soil media and

amendments

• Located adjacent Fish Pond Road

• Site location named CH-1B


120

• 840 ft. elevation

• 4% slope

• 1.5 %OM

• 7.3 pH


• Take soil samples for analysis



• Install grid system

• Install Topsoil

121


• Re-compact soil


• Install sensors

122


• Applied 3.23 lbs of 10-10-10 Fertilizer to subsoil

• Applied 1.96 lbs of 10-10-10 Fertilizer to topsoil


123


• ProGanics application

• Tried to follow manufacturer specifications as

best as possible

124


• HECP application

125


• Biotic Earth hand application

• Tried to follow manufacturer specifications as best as

possible

126



127


128

Topsoil

ProGanics

Biotic

Earth

No Topsoil


• 70% cover achieved by No Topsoil and ProGanics in

3.3 weeks

• Topsoil plots have significant non-desirable species

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

Topsoil No Topsoil Biotic Earth ProGanics

Per

cen

t C

ov

er (

%)

6/3/2015

6/19/2015

7/1/2015

7/16/2015

7/28/2015

8/11/2015

8/24/2015

129


• No difference between treatments

• Biotic Earth and ProGanics likely took longer due to field

application over the seed

130


• Long term no effect between applications and method

131

Field Study Conclusions:

• Objective 1

– At 846 ft., Mowable Areas, Warm Season, Cool

Season, and High Elevation performed as well or

better than current DOH mixtures

– Native mixtures slower to germinate

• Objective 2

– Cool Season and Mowable Areas did as well as the

DOH mixture

– After 90 days, the Warm Season and High Elevation

mixtures have not yet made the 70% cover target

– Difficult to make a warm season mixture perform well

in comparison to a cool season mixture

132

Field Study Conclusions:

• Objective 3

– After 90 days, there was no difference between seed

bed preparations

• Objective 4

– All treatments achieved 96% cover by 90 days

– Initial germination took longer for Biotic Earth and

ProGanics due to product thickness and not

incorporating seed mixture into the products

– Site conditions were moderate where poor conditions

could show a larger difference between treatments

133

Recommendations:

• Utilize Mowable Areas and Cool Season mixtures for

high elevations

• Large scale research on seed mixture performances

• Examine soil amendment and media products in large

scale on severe site conditions

• Examine larger selection of HECP on erosion control

effectiveness

134

Thank You! • Profile Products, LLC

• Arnold’s Custom Seeding, LLC

• Verdyol

• Mark Fiely, Ernst Conservation Seeds, Inc.

• West Virginia Division of Highways

135

Questions?

136

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