a handbook for forest roadside erosion control in …a handbook for forest roadside erosion control...
TRANSCRIPT
A Handbook for Forest Roadside Erosion Control in British Columbia
Land Management Report NUMBER ISBN 0-771 9-8276-3 4 January 1980
Province of Brit[s.k Columbia Ministcy of Forests
634.93 C312 H c. 3
c , 5’
H A N D B O O K FOR F O R E S T R O A D S I D E S U R F A C E E R O S I O N C O N T R O L
I N B R I T I S H COLUMBIA
by
William W. C a r r
( F o r e s t s Research C o n t r a c t E . P . 834)
Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests
i i i
C a n a d i a n Ca ta logu ing i n P u b l i c a t i o n Data
Carr, William W . , 1952- Handbook f o r f o r e s t r o a d s i d e s u r f a c e e r o s i o n
c o n t r o l i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a .
M i n i s t r y o f F o r e s t s r e s e a r c h c o n t r a c t E . P . 8 3 4 . B i b l i o g r a p h y : p. ISBN 0-7719-8276-3
1. F o r e s t r o a d s - B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a - Design and c o n s t r u c t i o n . 2 . R e v e g e t a t i o n - B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . 3. Roadside improvement - Br i t i sh Co lumbia . I. B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . M i n i s t r y of F o r e s t s . 11. T i t l e .
TE229.5.C37 634.9'3 C80-092009-0
@ 1980 Province of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a
Publ i shed by Informat i -on Serv ices Branch M i n i s t r y o f F o r e s t s P r o v i n c e of B r i t i s h Columbia V i c t o r i a , B.C. V8W 3E7
Janua ry 1980
S e c o n d p r i n t i n g
June, 1982.
V
PURPOSE
This handbook i s p r i m a r i l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f v e g e t a t i o n on f o r e s t r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s t h a t p r e s e n t a
p r o b l e m w i t h s u r f a c e e r o s i o n and sed imen t p roduc t i on . The so i l and
s u r f i c i a l m a t e r i a l s e x p o s e d by r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e i n h e r e n t l y
i n f e r t i l e and l ow i n o rgan ic ma t te r . Such a reas can be t rans fo rmed to
a s t a t e o f s t a b l e p r o d u c t i v i t y by appropr ia te measures .
I t i s o b v i o u s t h a t a c o n s t r u c t i o n s c a r c o v e r e d w i t h v e g e t a t i o n
i s m o r e p l e a s i n g v i s u a l l y t h a n o n e t h a t i s a c t i v e l y e r o d i n g o r g u l l
A l t h o u g h t h i s h a n d b o o k d o e s n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y d e a l w i t h a e s t h e t i c s ,
a f a c t o r t o b e c o n s i d e r e d w h i c h s h o u l d n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h f u n c t i o n a
o f t h e s o i l s u r f a c e . p r o t e c t i o n
f o r u s e i n
and econom
The mater ia ls and methods d
t h e B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a f o r e s t
i c p a r a m e t e r s p e c u l i a r t o Br
i s c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s h a n d b o o k . A more
con t ro l p rocedures , f rom wh ich much o f
i ed.
i t i s
1
i s c u s s e d i n t h i s handbook are a imed
e n v i r o n m e n t . P h y s i c a l , c l i m a t i c ,
i t i s h C o l u m b i a g o v e r n much o f what
g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e f o r e r o s i o n
t h i s handbook has been adapted, i s :
Methods of QuickZy Vegetating S o i l of Low
Productivity, Construction Activit ies
EPA-440/9-75-006
J u l y 1975
U.S . E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n Agency
O f f i c e of Water P lann ing and S tandards
Washington, D . C .
U . S . A . 20460
v i i
LIMITATIONS
The reader i s f o r e w a r n e d n o t t o e x p e r t t o f i n d a ready
made s o l u t i o n o f s p e c i f i c s i t e p r o b l e m s . The reader shou ld i ns tead
l o o k f o r g u i d e l i n e s w h i c h a r e g e n e r a l l y a p p l i c a b l e f o r an approach
t o s o l v i n g a s u r f a c e e r o s i o n p r o b l e m . One shou ld become f a m i l i a r
w i t h t h e i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s t o be c o n s i d e r e d i n a s u r f a c e e r o s i o n
c o n t r o l p r o g r a m a n d p o s s i b l e m e t h o d o l o g y f o r t h e s o l u t i o n t o t h i s
problem.
S o i l c o n d i t i o n s , c l i m a t i c v a r i a b i l i t y , t o p o g r a p h y , and
f i n a n c i a l commitment t o e r o s i o n c o n t r o l g o v e r n t h e c h o i c e o f
r e v e g e t a t i o n m e t h o d . T h e f i e l d o f e r o s i o n c o n t r o l i n t h e B . C .
f o r e s t e n v i r o n m e n t i s r a p i d l y d e v e l o p i n g and f l e x i b i l i t y f o r
improvement must be maintained. For these reasons, prescr ibed
s o l u t i o n s a r e a v o i d e d . L o c a l e x p e r i e n c e i s an i n v a l u a b l e t o o l
f o r s u c c e s s f u l v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t . T h i s r e p o r t s h o u l d s u p p l e m e n t
and r e i n f o r c e l o c a l e x p e r t i s e .
i x
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PURPOSE
LIMITATIONS
I NTRODUCT I ON PRINCIPLES OF EROSION AND ITS CONTROL
REVEGETATI ON PROCEDURES
l n t r o d u c t i o n C o n s t r u c t i o n C r i t e r i a Methods o f Revege ta t i on
Dryseed ing Hydrau l i c Seed ing Me thod Se lec t i on
MATER I ALS
F e r t i l i z e r and pH Mu1 c h Soi 1 B inde rs
PLANT SELECTION
Seed M i x C r i t e r i a Time o f Seed A p p l i c a t i o n Seed i ng Rates
CONCLUSION
LITERATURE CITED
APPENDIX I - D e s c r i p t i o n o f some i m p o r t a n t e r o s i o n cont ro l g rass and legume spec ies
APPENDIX I I - S t a n d a r d i z e d d e s c r i p t i o n c r i t e r i a f o r grass and legume s i t e s u i t a b i l i t y
APPENDIX I I I - Examples o f some g e n e r a l r o a d s i d e r e v e g e t a t i o n s e e d m i x t u r e s
V
v i i
1
6 8 8 8
1 1 1 1 12 15
16
16 17 18
19
19 20 20
22
2 3
25
37
41
X
LIST OF PLATES
1 .
2.
3.
4 .
5 .
6 .
7 .
8.
9 .
10.
1 1 .
S i d e c a s t f r o m f o r e s t r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n e n t e r i n g F o l e y L a k e n e a r C h i l l i w a c k .
Sed imenta t ion of F e l l o w ' s C r e e k , a t r i b u t a r y t o t h e K o k s i l a h R i v e r .
Accumulated sediment b l o c k i n g a c u l v e r t and h i n d e r i n g p r o p e r road d ra inage .
A c c e l e r a t e d s u r f a c e e r o s i o n u n d e r c u t t i n g a f o r e s t r o a d c u t - b a n k .
3
3
G u l l y e r o s i o n u n d e r m i n i n g a r o a d s u r f a c e . 4
F o r e s t r o a d s l o p e s t h a t e r o d e d t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 4 230 m3/ha i n seven months.
Revegetated forest road slope (Plate 6); grassed 7 areas showed no e r o s i o n .
Road i n t h e P r i n c e R u p e r t F o r e s t R e g i o n t h a t was 12 d r y s e e d e d ; n o t e l a c k o f v e g e t a t i o n o n s t e e p e r s l o p e s .
The new s l u r r y a p p l i c a t o r owned by the Research 13 B r a n c h , s u i t a b l e f o r g r o u n d - b a s e d f i r e r e t a r d a n t a p p l i c a t i o n a n d h y d r o s e e d i n g .
Pandora Ma in l ine (BCFP) i n P o r t R e n f r e w s h o r t l y 14 a f t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Pandora Ma in l i ne one yea r a f te r hyd roseed ing ; no te 14 e x c e l l e n t v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t o n s t e e p s i d e s l o p e s .
INTRODUCTION
S o i l e r o s i o n r e s u l t i n g f r o m f o r e s t r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n
i s a major management-related cause o f f o r e s t s t r e a m t u r b i d ' i t y
and s e d m i n t a t i o n ( P l a t e 1 ) . A n e w l y c o n s t r u c t e d f o r e s t r o a d c a n
h a v e f r o m o n e - h a l f t o t h r e e h e c t a r e s o f e x p o s e d s o i l a n d s u r f i c i a l
m a t e r i a l p e r k i l o m e t r e . Where p l a n t s and t h e i r o r g a n i c r e m a i n s h a v e
p r o t e c t e d t h e l a n d s u r f a c e f o r y e a r s , t h i s p r o t e c t i v e c o v e r i s d e s t r o y e d
b y c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . The exposed s o i l m a t e r i a l is o f t e n
l e f t u n p r o t e c t e d o n s t e e p , r a w c u t a n d f i l l s lopes . The unpro tec ted
s l o p e i s e x t r e m e l y v u l n e r a b l e t o t h e e r o s i v e f o r c e s o f w i n d , w a t e r ,
and f r o s t . T h i s t y p e o f a r e a i s a l s o a v e r y h a r s h e n v i r o n m e n t t o
r e - e s t a b l i s h a p r o t e c t i v e v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r .
The sediment produced by these eroding road s lopes
n o t o n l y d e g r a d e s t h e p h y s i c a l q u a l i t y o f s t r e a m w a t e r s ( P l a t e 2 1 ,
b u t may a l s o a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t r o a d s t a b i l i t y . E r o d e d m a t e r i a l c a n
reduce t he d ra inage capac i t y o f r o a d d i t c h e s a n d c u l v e r t s ( P l a t e 3 ) , undercu t road banks (P la te 4) and undermine the road sur face
i t s e l f ( P l a t e 5 ) . A l t h o u g h s u r f a c e e r o s i o n i s n o t as o b v i o u s o r
s p e c t a c u l a r as mass w a s t i n g , i t i s a s e r i o u s p r o b l e m t h a t c a n move
a g r e a t d e a l o f s o i l m a t e r i a l o v e r t h e l i f e t i m e o f a road sys tem. Th is
i s e s p e c i a l l y t r u e d u r i n g t h e f i r s t f e w y e a r s f o l l o w i n g r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n .
I n Oregon, Fredr icksen (1965) found a 2 5 0 - f o l d i nc rease
i n s t r e a m t u r b i d i t y a n d s e d i m e n t a t i o n d u r i n g t h e f i r s t r a i n s t o r m s
f o l l o w i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n o f 2 . 5 km o f f o r e s t r o a d o n a 100 h e c t a r e
wa te rshed . Sed imen t l eve l s con t i nued to be h ighe r t han a companion
und is tu rbed wa te rshed fo r t he nex t two yea rs . By measuring changes
i n s l o p e p r o f i l e , D y r n e s s ( 1 9 7 0 ) f o u n d a 1.14 cm s o i l l o s s o v e r
t h e f i r s t w i n t e r a f t e r r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n i n O r e g o n . S o i l l o s s by
d ry rave l ove r t he subsequen t summer was a lmost as great amount ing
t o 1.02 cm. The f i r s t y e a r s o i l loss a c c o u n t e d f o r a 2.16 cm o f
s l o p e p r o f i l e change o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 200 m o f s o i l l o s s p e r
h e c t a r e . A f t e r 5 yea rs , t he annua l so i l l oss was 0.51 cm, s t i l l
a c c o u n t i n g f o r a s o i l loss o f 50 m3/ha o f exposed s lope.
3
2
P l a t e 1 . S i d e c a s t from f o r e s t r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n e n t e ' i I Foley Lake near Chi 1 1 iwack.
P l a t e 2 . S e d i m e n t a t i o n o f F e l l o w ' s C r e e k , a t r i b u t a r y t o t h e Koks i 1 ah R i v e r .
3
lpe r
P l a t e 4. A c c e l e r a t e d s u r f a c e e r o s i o n u n d e r c u t t i n g a f o r e s t r o a d cut -bank.
4
P l a t e 5. G u l l y e r o s i o n u n d e r m i n i n g a road su r face .
P l a t e 6 . F o r e s t r o a d slopes t h a t e r o d e d t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 230 m3/ha i n seven months.
5
I n a s tudy conducted on sou thern Vancouver I s land,
Car r (1977) measured the s lope p ro f i le change over the w in te r September
1976 t o A p r i l 1977. On a 3 - y e a r o l d r o a d s y s t e m , t h e s o i l l o s s
averaged 2.3 cm w h i c h i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 230 m3 o f e r o s i o n p e r h e c t a r e
o f exposed s lope (P la te 6 ) . S i n c e e r o s i o n i s u s u a l l y g r e a t e r i n t h e
f i r s t f e w y e a r s , t h e t o t a l e r o s i o n t o d a t e f o r t h i s ?,-year o l d
r o a d s y s t e m i s a t l e a s t 1000 m3/km (assuming 1 . 5 ha o f s l o p e p e r
k i l o m e t r e o f road ) . Th i s does not e v e n i n c l u d e d r y r a v e l o v e r t h e
summer, w h i c h i n Oregon matched water eros ion.
A l though a l a r g e p o r t i o n of t h i s e r o d e d m a t e r i a l comes
t o r e s t i n t h e r o a d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m , r o a d d r a i n a g e w a t e r a n d c o n t i n u a l
r o a d m a i n t e n a n c e e v e n t u a l l y t r a n s p o r t much o f t h i s m a t e r i a l t o n e i g h b o u r i n g
s t r e a m s . T h i s s o i l m a t e r i a l will have a d e l e t e r i o u s e f f e c t o n t h e
w a t e r q u a l i t y , f i s h e r i e s p o t e n t i a l , and a q u a t i c e n v i r o n m e n t o f a
w a t e r s h e d . W h i l e i n t h e r o a d d r a i n a g e s y s t e m , t h e s o i l will reduce
t h e e f f e c t i v e w a t e r - c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t i e s o f d r a i n a g e s t r u c t u r e s ,
j e o p a r d i z i n g r o a d s t a b i l i t y . T h i s b e i n g t h e c a s e , t h e r e i s n o
d o u b t t h a t s u r f a c e e r o s i o n i s a s e r i o u s , a l t h o u g h n o t h i g h l y v i s i b l e
problem.
6
PRINCIPLES OF E R O S I O N AND ITS CONTROL
F o l l o w i n g t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e p r o t e c t i v e v e g e t a t i o n by
c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s , t h e n e w l y e x p o s e d s o i l m a t e r i a l i s
s u b j e c t e d t o e r o s i v e f o r c e s . S u r f a c e s o i l e r o s i o n i s d e f i n e d a s
t h e d e t a c h m e n t a n d t r a n s p o r t o f s o i l b y w i n d , w a t e r , i c e , a n d / o r
g r a v i t y . I f l e f t unchecked, the e ros ion will p rog ress t h rough the
f o l l o w i n g s t a g e s :
S p l a s h e r o s i o n : t h e l o o s e n i n g o f s o i l p a r t i c l e s
by r a i n d r o p i m p a c t r e s u l t i n g i n t h e
d e s t r u c t i o n o f s o i l s t r u c t u r e s .
Shee t e ros ion : t he remova l o f a f a i r l y u n i f o r m l a y e r
o f s o i 1 f r om the l and by s u r f a c e r u n o f f .
Rill e r o s i o n : a p r o c e s s i n w h i c h numerous small channels
o f s e v e r a l i n c h e s i n d e p t h a r e f o r m e d .
Gul ly eros ion : t he e ros i ve p rocess whereby wa te r
accumulates in narrow channels and,
o v e r s h o r t p e r i o d s , r e m o v e s t h e s o i l
f r o m t h i s n a r r o w a r e a t o c o n s i d e r a b l e
depth .
D i s s i p a t i o n o f t h e e r o s i v e e n e r g i e s c a u s i n g t h e a b o v e
s t a g e s o f s o i l e r o s i o n i s a n e c e s s a r y s t e p i n c h e c k i n g e r o s i o n .
Cons t ruc t i on p rocedures such a s b e n c h i n g o r t e r r a c i n g c a n h e l p
i n r e d u c i n g t h e e r o s i v e f o r c e o f s u r f a c e w a t e r . H o w e v e r , t h e m o s t
i m p o r t a n t a n d l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n t o s u r f a c e e r o s i o n i s t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f a p r o t e c t i v e v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r . The r e c e n t s t u d i e s o f D y r n e s s
(1975) , Megahan (1975) , and Carr (1977) h a v e q u a n t i f i e d s i g n i f i c a n t
r e d u c t i o n s i n s u r f a c e e r o s i o n a c h i e v e d b y r e v e g e t a t i o n o f b a r e s l o p e s
b e s i d e f o r e s t r o a d s ( P l a t e 7 ) . I n g e n e r a l , a p l a n t and l i t t e r
c o v e r o f 7 0 - 8 0 % c a n e f f e c t i v e l y c o n t r o l s o i l e r o s i o n f r o m b o t h
d r y r a v e l a n d w a t e r e r o s i o n . T h e i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n s o f a
v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r a r e as f o l l o w s ( B e r g l a n d , 1976):
7
P1 a t e 7 . R e v e g e t a t e d f o r e s t r o a d s l o p e ( P l a t e 6) ; grassed a reas showed n o e r o s i o n .
1 ) V e g e t a t i o n p r o t e c t s t h e s o i l p a r t i c l e s f r o m d i r e c t i m p a c t
o f r a i n d r o p s . R a i n d r o p e n e r g y will be d i s s i p a t e d on
v e g e t a t i o n i n s t e a d o f o n t h e s o i l p a r t i c l e s .
2 ) Grasses and legumes can reduce the ve loc i ty o f sur face
r u n o f f , w h i c h a l s o d i s s i p a t e s t h e e r o s i v e e n e r g y a n d
a l l o w s m o r e t i m e f o r i n f i l t r a t i o n .
3 ) Grass can r a p i d l y d e v e l o p a f i n e , e x t e n s i v e r o o t s y s t e m
t h a t s t a b i l i z e s s o i l p a r t i c l e s b y i n c r e a s i n g r e s i s t a n c e
t o e r o s i v e f o r c e s .
4 ) E s t a b l i s h e d v e g e t a t i o n w i 1 1 t r a p e r o d i n g s o i l p a r t i c l e s
and prevent them f rom moving down t h e e n t i r e l e n g t h o f
t h e s l o p e .
5 ) The a d d i t i o n o f o r g a n i c m a t t e r t o t h e s o
s o i l more r e s i s t a n t to e r o s i o n b u t a l s o
s o i l d e v e l o p m e n t .
I
I
Becker (1971) and Berger (1979) a l s o s t a t e t h a t a we
s t a b l e g r a s s - l e g u m e c o v e r c a n c o n t r o l v e g e t a t i o n r e p
1 n o t o n l y makes
s i m p o r t a n t i n
1 e s t a b l i s h e d ,
acement a t a s i t e ,
t h u s c o n t r o l l i n g t h e i n v a s i o n o f u n d e s i r a b l e b r u s h s p e c i e s .
Once a f o r e s t r o a d i s p r o p e r l y c o n s t r u c t e d , r e v e g e t a t i o n o f
n e w l y e x p o s e d s o i l m a t e r i a l i s a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p i n c o n t r o l l i n g e r o s i o n .
I t a i d s g r e a t l y i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h e i n t e g r i t y o f b o t h t h e a d j a c e n t a q u a t i c
env i ronmen t and road d ra inage s t ruc tu res .
8
REVEGETATION P R O C E D U R E S
Introduction Revegetation for erosion control and sediment reduction
should be an integral part of the planning and design phases of all
road construction activities. At each new site, variations in weather, topography, soil and surficial materials, and financial commitment govern
the options available for successful vegetation establishment.
Grasses and legumes are the principal types of vegetation
considered for surface erosion control. They are generally capable
o f attaining a stage of maturity and ground cover within one
growing season which wi 1 1 be effective in halting surface erosion
and sediment transport. A mature and stable plant community can be expected within two or three years. In most cases, this is best accomplished w i t h combinations o f rapidly developing grasses and
more slowly maturing perennial grasses and legumes.
It must be remembered that plants have their limitations.
Most grasses and legumes have a dense, shallow root system that is
excellent for control of surface erosion but not - effective in
preventing surface creep or shallow rotational failures. Where
this deeper erosion is of concern, shrubs or trees become an essential
ingredient in a soil stabilization program.
Each species of grass and legume has definite climatic,
soil, and biological limitations. Aside from fitting the erosion
control qualifications, any species chosen for use at a particular
site must be adapted to all existing factors of the habitat.
In many cases, man can manipulate certain factors (eg. pH or
fertility) to make the site more amenable to vegetation establishment
and persistence.
Construction Criteria
The most important factor in successful vegetation
establishment on steep slopes is that the slope be mechanically
stable. If a slope is not properly constructed, no amount of
sophistication in vegetation establishment methodology is of any
value. Subsequent slope failure or degradation will undo all
erosion control efforts.
9
Once a s l o p e i s p r o p e r l y c o n s t r u c t e d and s t a b l e , t h e r e
a r e s i x a d d i t i o n a l d e s i g n c r i t e r i a t h a t c a n a i d i n v e g e t a t i o n
e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
1 . Reduc ing s lope g rade : The e ros i ve f o rce o f su r face
r u n o f f d e c r e a s e s w i t h a r e d u c t i o n i n s l o p e
s t e e p n e s s . T h i s a l l o w s v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t
w i t h o u t e x c e s s i v e movement o f t h e s o i l ,
s e e d , o r s o i l amendments.
2. Benching of s l o p e s : The use o f benched, te r raced, o r
s e r r a t e d s l o p e s h a s many b e n e f i t s . The
e f f e c t i v e s l o p e l e n g t h i s s h o r t e n e d ,
r e d u c i n g s u r f a c e r u n o f f v e l o c i t y . A
bench w i t h a 1-2% g r a d e c a n h e l p d r a i n
w a t e r f r o m t h e s l o p e , l o w e r i n g s u r f a c e
f l o w . I n a r e a s o f low p r e c i p i t a t i o n , a
h o r i z o n t a l b e n c h c a n c o l l e c t w a t e r
and a i d i n v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
3. S l o p e r o u n d i n g : R o u n d i n g t h e t o p o f a c u t s l o p e
i s n o t o n l y b e n e f i c i a l t o v e g e t a t i o n
e s t a b l i s h m e n t b u t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t i n
m a i n t a i n i n g s l o p e s t a b i l i t y . V e g e t a t i o n
overhangs pose a c o n s t a n t t h r e a t of f a i l u r e a n d s c o u r i n g o f t h e s l o p e . T h e y
a l s o p r o v i d e a s o u r c e o f w a t e r a c c u m u l a t i o n
and d r i p w h i c h a c c e l e r a t e s e r o s i o n . A
r o u n d e d s l o p e a l l o w s t h e v e g e t a t i o n t o
"anchor" i t s e l f t o a more g e n t l e s l o p e .
T h i s r e d u c e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e
v e g e t a t i v e m a t p e e l i n g f r o m t h e s l o p e and
makes i t m o r e r e s i s t a n t t o f r o s t a c t i o n .
Fa i 1 u r e to proper ly round s lopes has been
a m a j o r p r o b l e m i n t h e r e v e g e t a t i o n o f
fo res t roads on Sou the rn Vancouver I s l and .
4 . Leav ing a rough s lope : A n e w l y c o n s t r u c t e d s l o p e
l e f t r o u g h p r o v e s t o b e a n e x c e l l e n t
seedbed. The seed can r e a d i l y f i t i n t o
s m a l l p o c k e t s a n d c r e v i c e s w h i c h p r o t e c t
t h e s e e d a n d c o l l e c t m o i s t u r e , t h u s i m p r o v i n g
germinat ion. Fur thermore, seed and o t h e r
s o i l amendments a r e l e s s e a s i l y removed from
a rough s lope by w ind , wa te r o r an ima ls
t h a n t h e y a r e f r o m a s m o o t h l y f i n i s h e d
s lope.
5 . C o n t r o l o f s u r f a c e w a t e r : C u t a n d f i l l s lopes shou ld
be p r o t e c t e d f r o m e x c e s s i v e s u r f a c e w a t e r . A
temporary road berm will p reven t road runo f f f r om
damaging a f i l l o r s i d e - c a s t s l o p e . F o r c u t
s lopes , some t y p e o f i n t e r c e p t o r d i t c h a b o v e
a c o n s t r u c t e d s l o p e may be necessa ry t o reduce
s u r f a c e r u n o f f f l o w .
6 . Use o f t e m p o r a r y e r o s i o n c o n t r o l : C o v e r i n g t h e s l o p e
w i t h a p r o t e c t i v e m u l c h o r c h e m i c a l s o i l
b i n d e r i s a n e c e s s a r y s t e p i n e r o s i o n
c o n t r o l p r o c e d u r e s . The temporary cover
w i l l p r o t e c t t h e s l o p e a n d e s t a b l i s h
v e g e t a t i o n u n t i l a d e q u a t e c o v e r de.ve1ops.
Seeding of a l l s l o p e s a n d e x p o s e d m a t e r i a l s h o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w
c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o j e c t . I f i t i s the wrong season
f o r a permanent seeding, o r t h e a r e a i s t o b e r e w o r k e d l a t e r , a temporary
seed ing shou ld be done. Gra in rye (Seeale cerea le ) , perenn i a1 ryeg rass
( ~ o l i u m perenne) , o r a n n u a l r y e g r a s s ( ~ o l i w n multiflorwn) a r e
commonly used grasses f o r s u c h a seed ing . When t h e s e a s o n i s p r o p e r
and a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a r e f i n i s h e d , a permanent seeding
shou ld take p lace . The seed mix shou ld be t a i l o r e d t o meet the
s p e c i f i c r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e a r e a , s u c h as g r o w t h h a b i t o r h e i g h t .
P r o p e r s e e d a p p l i c a t i o n m e t h o d o l o g y , t i m i n g , a n d s i t e p r e p a r a t i o n m u s t
be fol lowed.
1 1
Methods o f R e v e g e t a t i o n
T h e r e a r e f o u r b a s i c m e t h o d s o f r o a d s i d e r e v e g e t a t i o n :
1 . sodd ing
2. d ry b roadcas t seed ing
3 . h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g o r m u l c h i n g
4. s t e e p - s l o p e s e e d d r i l l i n g .
O f t h e a b o v e m e t h o d s , o n l y d r y b r o a d c a s t a n d h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g
a r e c u r r e n t l y f e a s i b l e f o r u s e o n f o r e s t r o a d s . S o d d i n g i s v e r y
e x p e n s i v e a n d s h o u l d b e l i m i t e d t o c r i t i c a l l y s t e e p s l o p e s . On
such s lopes , the sod must be "s tap led" o r "s taked" t o t h e s l o p e
u n t i l t h e r o o t s a r e c a p a b l e o f s u p p o r t i n g t h e s o d .
P l a n t i n g s e e d w i t h a seed d r i l l i s one o f t h e m o s t
e f f e c t i v e methods o f g rass- legume es tab l i shment . The seed i s c o v e r e d
by a p r o t e c t i v e s o i l l a y e r t h a t i
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , c o n v e n t i o n a l s e e d
s lopes. There has been a r e c e n t
d r i l l by the U . S . F . S . a t t h e San
1978). T e s t i n g o f t h e seed d r i l l
mproves the germinat ing mic ro-env i ronment .
d r i l l s a r e n o t o p e r a b l e o n s t e e p
deve lopment o f a s teep-s lope seed
Dimas Development Center (P icket t ,
i s b e i n g done i n t h e W i l l a r n e t t e
N a t i o n a l F o r e s t a n d r e s u l t s s o fa r have been p romis ing . Th is seeder
i s n o t c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e a t t h i s t i m e , b u t b l u e p r i n t s can be
o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e San Dimas Development Center.
Dryseed ing :
O f the t w o m o r e p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d s , d r y broadcas t seed ing
i s t h e l e a s t e x p e n s i v e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t i s l i m i t e d b y s l o p e
s teepness (P la te 8 ) . D r y s e e d a p p l i c a t i o n i s b a s i c a l l y t h e s p r e a d i n g
o f seed on the s i te by hand, by means o f a cyc lone - t ype sp reader ,
o r by some t y p e o f a i r b l a s t . Once on t he s lope , t he seed i s
a f f o r d e d no p r o t e c t i o n f r o m w i n d o r s u r f a c e w a t e r f l o w . On s teep
s l o p e s , t h e s e e d i s o f t e n removed and cover establ ishment can be
s p o r a d i c . F e r t i l i z e r can be a p p l i e d i n t h e same manner b u t a g a i n
i s s u b j e c t t o r e m o v a l f r o m t h e s l o p e by wind or w a t e r . I n g e n e r a l ,
d r y s e e d i n g f o r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l i s l i m i t e d t o s l o p e s 2 : l o r l e s s .
I f a mulch i s p l a c e d o n t o p o f the seed, chances for even cover
es tab l i shmen t a re improved .
12
t’late 8. Road i n t h e P r i n c e R u p e r t F o r e s t R e a i o n t h a t was dry seeded; n o t e l a c k o f v e g e t a t i o n on s teeper s lopes .
H y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g :
A t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g ( k n o w n a l s o as
hyd roseed ing o r hyd romu lch ing ) appears t o be t he bes t me thod fo r
r e v e g e t a t i o n o f s t e e p , e r o d a b l e s l o p e s . H y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g i s t h e
a p p l i c a t i o n t o s o i l o f a seed and wa te r s lu r r y t ha t may c o n t a i n a
c h e m i c a l s o i l b i n d e r , f e r t i l i z e r , a n d / o r a mu lch . Ma te r ia l s can be
combined i n one s l u r r y f o r a s i n g l e a p p l i c a t i o n o r some components
can be a p p l i e d s e p a r a t e l y . E i t h e r m e t h o d p r o v i d e s e f f e c t i v e
sp read ing o f t he s lu r r y componen ts on t he s lope .
A g i t a t i o n o f t h e s l u r r y i n a m i x i n g o r h o l d i n g t a n k i s
necessary to assure homogene i ty . The s l u r r y i s t h e n a p p l i e d t o
the s lope by some type o f volume pumping system. Hydraul ic seeders
a r e c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e i n a r a n g e o f s i z e s , f r o m 250 g a l l o n t o
3000 ga 1 Ion capac i t y . Some o f t h e s e u n i t s c a n be m o d i f i e d f o r
o the r uses i n t he f o res t env i ronmen t where wa te r o r s l u r r y a p p l i c a t i o n
i s needed (P la te 9 ) .
1 3
P l a t e 9. The new s l u r r y a p p l i c a t o r owned by the Research Branch, s u i t a b l e f o r g r o u n d - b a s e d f i r e r e t a r d a n t a p p l i c a t i o n a n d hyd roseed i ng .
One o f t h e k e y c o m p o n e n t s i n t h e s l u r r y is t he chemica l
s o i l b i n d e r . T h i s m a t e r i a l a c t s a s a n a d h e s i v e , h o l d i n g t h e s e e d
and s o i l i n p l a c e o n t h e s l o p e u n t i l g e r m i n a t i o n ha3 o c c u r r e d . The
a d d i t i o n o f a s m a l l amount o f m u l c h i m p r o v e s t h e b o n d i n g c a p a b i l i t y
o f the s o i l b i n d e r . I f mu lch ing for m i c r o - s i t e m o d i f i c a t i o n i s
necessa ry , t h e use o f hydro-mulches i s c o m p a t i b l e w i t h h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g
equipment. The a d d i t i o n o f f e r t i l i z e r to t h e s l u r r y i s a n e f f e c t i v e
and i n e x p e n s i v e m e t h o d o f s l o p e f e r t i l i z a t i o n . C a r e m u s t b e t a k e n t o
limit seed exposure t o t h e s l u r r y . Seed damage can be cons ide rab le
f r o m e i t h e r e x p o s u r e t o h i g h o s m o t i c p o t e n t i a l s i n t h e s l u r r y ( C a r r
and Ba 1 l a r d , 1979) o r mechan i c a 1 damage from the pump (Kay, 1977) . H y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g h a s b e e n p r o v e n e f f e c t i v e i n v e g e t a t i o n
es tab l i shmen t on s lopes up t o 1 : 1 and s teeper (P la tes 10 and 1 1 ) .
A l t h o u g h t h e c o s t o f h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g may seem h i g h , i t i s a l m o s t
i n s i g n i f i c a n t when compared t o r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n and maintenance costs .
The f i n a n c i a l commitment t o e r o s i o n c o n t r o l s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d i n
a long- te rm v iew and as a c o s t of o p e r a t i o n . I g n o r i n g t h e p r o b l e m of
s u r f a c e e r o s i o n and s t ream sed imen ta t i on does no t make i t d i sappear ; i t
se ts up a p o t e n t i a l l y more c o s t l y and damaging s i t u a t i o n .
14
P l a t e T O . Pandora Ma in l i ne (BCFP) i n P o r t R e n f r e w s h o r t l y a f t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n .
P l a t e 1 1 . Pandora Ma in l i ne one yea r a f te r hyd roseed ing ; no te e x c e l l e n t v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t o n s t e e p s i d e s l o p e s .
M e t h o d s e l e c t i o n :
The method o f r e v e g e t a t i o n o n f o r e s t r o a d s i s p r i m a r i l y
d e p e n d e n t o n t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t o r s :
1 . s lope s teepness
2. s c a l e of p l a n n e d r e v e g e t a t i o n p r o j e c t
3 . s e v e r i t y o f e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l and hazard
4 . f i n a n c i a l commitment
5 . e q u i p m e n t a v a i l a b i l i t y .
Each method o f r e v e g e t a t i o n h a s i t s p a r t i c u l a r l i m i t a t i o n s and
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . O b v i o u s l y , i t i s b e s t t o m a t c h t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d
the proper method. However, i f t h i s i s n o t p o s s i b l e o r p r a c t i c a l ,
some f o r m o f a l t e r n a t e o r e v e n t e m p o r a r y s o l u t i o n s h o u l d be sought.
The longer an e ros i ve a rea i s l e f t u n p r o t e c t e d , t h e m o r e s e r i o u s t h e
consequences and more d i
General gu i
a) Steep SI
f f i c u l t f u t u r e r e v e g e t a t i o n becomes.
d e l i n e f o r m e t h o d s e l e c t i o n :
opes , h igh e ros ion haza rd -
h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g o r s o d d i n g
b) Steep s lopes, medium e r o s i o n h a z a r d -
h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g o r d r y s e e d i n g w i t h
mu 1 ch
c ) G e n t l e s l o p e s , medium e r o s i o n h a z a r d -
d r y s e e d i n g w i t h o r w i t h o u t m u l c h ;
o r h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g
d ) Gen t le s lope , l ow e ros ion haza rd - dry seed i ng .
16
MATER I ALS
F e r t i l i z e r and pH
I n a n y r e v e g e t a t i o n p r o g r a m , a s o i l t e s t i s i n v a l u a b l e .
A n u t r i e n t d e f i c i e n c y o r a n a c i d i t y p r o b l e m c a n n u l l i f y a n y a t t e m p t
a t r e v e g e t a t i n g a denuded s o i l .
The exposed so i 1 o r s u r f i c i a l m a t e r i a l o f t h e f o r e s t
env i ronment i s t y p i c a l l y a c i d i c w i t h a pH near 5 .0 n o t uncommon.
A pH be low 6 .0 can be p roh ib i t i ve t o success fu l l egume es tab l i shmen t .
A l though some g r a s s e s c a n t o l e r a t e m i l d l y a c i d i c c o n d i t i o n s , a pH
f a r f r o m n e u t r a l (pH 7.0) can r e s t r i c t t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f e s s e n t i a l s o i l
n u t r i e n t s n e c e s s a r y fo r s u c c e s s f u l p l a n t e s t a b l i s h m e n t . S o i l pH
can be m o d i f i e d b y a d d i t i o n s o f l i m e t o t h e s o i l . Lime a p p l i c a t i o n
shou ld p receed seed sowing . However , bo th can be app l ied concur ren t ly
i f cos t o r equ ipmen t p rob lems a r i se .
The l e v e l s o f p r i m a r y n u t r i e n t s s h o u l d b e c h e c k e d i n t h e
s o i l a n a l y s i s . Newly exposed s o i l mater ia ls i n c u t a n d f i l l s l o p e s
are g e n e r a l l y i n f e r t i l e a n d h a v e low n u t r i e n t h o l d i n g c a p a b i l i t y ( C . E . C . ) .
F e r t i l i z e r a d d i t i o n of n i t r o g e n , p h o s p h o r u s , p o t a s s i u m a n d p o s s i b l y
s u l p h u r i s u s u a l l y r e q u i r e d f o r a l l r e v e g e t a t i o n s e e d i n g s . Knowledge
of l o c a l s o i l n u t r i e n t c o n d i t i o n s i s h e l p f u l i n r e q u e s t i n g s p e c i f i c
s o i l t e s t s beyond N , P , and K.
General f e r t i l i z e r r a t e s f o r n i t rogen, phosphorus , and
p o t a s s i u m a r e g i v e n h e r e a s an a i d t o t h e r e v e g e t a t i o n p l a n n e r .
T h e y s h o u l d n o t b e t a k e n a s s t r i c t g u i d e l i n e s . F o r g r a s s e s t a b l i s h m e n t
50-80 k g / h a o f n i t r o g e n s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f
any f e r t i l i z a t i o n p r o g r a m s . I f legumes a r e t o c o m p r i s e a s u b s t a n t i a l
p o r t i o n o f t h e p l a n t c o v e r , a l e s s e r amount o f n i t r o g e n ( 3 0 - 5 0 k g / h a )
s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d . H i g h l e v e l s o f n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n h a s b e e n shown
t o i n h i b i t legume establ ishment . A minimum o f 15 kg/ha o f phosphorus should
be inc luded as a s t a r t e r f e r t i l i z e r . The t o t a l p h o s p h o r u s l e v e l
i n t h e s o i l a f t e r f e r t i l i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e a t minimum 50 kg/ha.
A g e n e r a l p r a c t i c e o f a d d i n g a t l e a s t 3 0 - 5 0 k g / h a t o t h e s o i l s h o u l d
s u f f i c e i f s o i l t e s t d a t a i s m i s s i n g . P o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n c a n r a n g e
from 30 kg/ha as a s t a r t e r t o 2 5 0 k g / h a o n s o i l s w i t h a v e r y l o w
potass ium leve l where legumes are to be seeded. A t no t ime shou ld
t h e s o i l p o t a s s i u m l e v e l be l e s s t h a n 100 k g / h a . W i t h n o s o i l d a t a ,
5 0 - 7 5 k g / h a s h o u l d b e a d e q u a t e f o r t h e i n i t i a l f e r t i l i z a t i o n .
A v e r y n e c e s s a r y s t e p i n a n y r e v e g e t a t i o n p r o g r a m i s
f e r t i l i z e r m a i n t e n a n c e or p o s t c o n s t r u c t i o n f e r t i l i z a t i o n . The
n u t r i e n t s i n i t i a l l y added t o t h e s o i l s y s t e m a r e u s u a l l y t i e d - u p
i n t h e p l a n t m a t e r i a l w i t h i n t w o y e a r s . R e f e r t i l i z a t i o n i n t h e s e c o n d
and f o u r t h y e a r s i s g e n e r a l l y a must f o r c o n t i n u e d v i g o u r o f t h e
p l a n t c o v e r . T h i s c a n a l s o p r e v e n t v e g e t a t i o n r e p l a c e m e n t b y u n d e s i r a b l e
spec ies .
Mu 1 c h
Mulch i s n o n - l i v i n g m a t e r i a l t h a t o f f e r s i n s t a n t a n e o u s
p r o t e c t i o n t o t h e s o i l s u r f a c e ( B e r g l a n d , 1 9 7 6 ) . M u l c h may a l s o
improve t he seed m ic ro -env i ronmen t by modera t i ng evapora t i on and so i l
m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t , a n d m o d i f y i n g s o i l a n d a i r t e m p e r a t u r e s ( B r i n k
and Maxwel l , 1965) . A m u l c h a p p l i c a t i o n o f 1000-2000 kg/ha i s u s u a l l y
a d e q u a t e t o p r o v i d e t h e d e s i r e d c o n d i t i o n s a n d i s o f t e n recommended
w i t h b r o a d c a s t s e e d i n g .
There a re a number o f m u l c h i n g m a t e r i a l s a v a i l a b l e , s u c h
a s e x c e l s i o r m a t t i n g , j u t e n e t t i n g , s t r a w , a n d p a p e r o r p l a s t i c
cover ings (Dueck, 1967, Kay, 1976) . These mu lch ing ma te r ia l s can be
e x p e n s i v e , l a b o u r i n t e n s i v e , a n d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n may r e q u i r e
s p e c i a l equipment. F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a p p l y i n g
these mulches may be p r o h i b i t i v e i n t h e f o r e s t e n v i r o n m e n t .
There has been recent development of hydro-mulches which
a r e m u l c h i n g m a t e r i a l s a p p l i e d i n s l u r r y f o r m b y a h y d r a u l i c s e e d e r .
The two m a j o r t y p e s o f h y d r o - m u l c h e s a r e e i t h e r c e l l u l o s e f i b r e
b y - p r o d u c t s f r o m t h e p u l p i n g i n d u s t r y o r p e l l e t i z e d g r a s s s e e d w a s t e s .
B o t h t y p e s a r e a d e q u a t e m u l c h i n g m a t e r i a l s t h a t p r o v i d e t h e e a s e o f s l u r r y
a p p l i c a t i o n . T h i s makes them r e l a t i v e l y i n e x p e n s i v e compared t o o t h e r
t y p e s o f m u l c h e s . A c h e m i c a l s o i l b i n d e r c a n b e u s e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n
w i t h t h e s e h y d r o - m u l c h e s t o s u p p l y a d d i t i o n a l b o n d i n g f o r t h e m u l c h
f i b r e s .
The u s e o f m u l c h i n r e v e g e t a t i o n s h o u l d b e u s e d o n l y
where necessary . In many c a s e s , p r o p e r t i m i n g o f s e e d a p p l i c a t i o n
and ma i n t a i n
mu lch ing .
Soi 1 B i nders
I ng good agronomic p rac t ice may a l l e v i a t e t h e need f o r
One o f t h e m o r e r e c e n t a n d m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t a d v a n c e s i n
h y d r a u l i c s e e d i n g h a s b e e n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c h e m i c a l s o i l b i n d e r s
o r t a c k i f i e r s . The s o i l b i n d e r i s a n o r g a n i c o r i n o r g a n i c s u b s t a n c e
added t o a s l u r r y t o p r o v i d e t e m p o r a r y s o i l c o h e s i o n a n d e r o s i o n
p r o t e c t i o n , h o l d i n g s e e d a n d s u r f a c e p a r t i c l e s i n p l a c e . The
b i n d e r s c a n l a s t from t h r e e t o s i x m o n t h s , w h i c h s h o u l d b e s u f f i c i e n t
t i m e f o r t h e v e g e t a t i o n c o v e r t o e s t a b l i s h ( A r m b r u s t a n d D i c k e r s o n , 1971,
Kay , 1976). The c h e m i c a l s o i l b i n d e r may be cons ide red a s p e c i a l
t y p e o f m u l c h , p r o v i d i n g t e m p o r a r y s o i l p r o t e c t i o n a n d some m o d i f i c a t i o n
o f s o i l m o i s t u r e and tempera tu re . The re a re many s o i l b i n d e r s a v a i l a b l e
c o m m e r c i a l l y , w i t h new ones be ing deve loped and i n t roduced regu la r l y .
The c o s t , e f f e c t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n r a t e , a n d e a s e o f h a n d l i n g v a r i e s
m a r k e d l y f r o m b i n d e r t o b i n d e r . C a r e f u l t e s t i n g a n d p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e
i s needed t o p r o p e r l y s e l e c t and use a s o i l b i n d e r i n h y d r a u l i c
seed i ng.
PLANT SELECTION
The m e t h o d a n d t i m i n g o f s e e d a p p l i c a t i o n a r e i m p o r t a n t
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n a n y r e v e g e t a t i o n p r o g r a m , b u t o f more impor tance
i s t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a s u i t a b l e seed mix . Wi thout proper spec ies
s e l e c t i o n a n d c o m b i n a t i o n , n o a m o u n t o f p r e c a u t i o n o r s o p h i s t i c a t i o n
i n a p p l i c a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s will a i d c o v e r e s t a b l i s h m e n t .
Seed M i x C r i t e r i a
Each spec ies o f grass or legume has i t s c l i m a t i c ,
p h y s i o g r a p h i c , a n d b i o l o g i c a l l i m i t a t i o n s . M o i s t u r e , l i g h t ,
t e m p e r a t u r e , e l e v a t i o n , a s p e c t , b a l a n c e o f e s s e n t i a l n u t r i e n t s ,
and p l a n t c o m p e t i t i o n a r e e c o l o g i c a l p a r a m e t e r s t h a t f a v o u r o r
r e s t r i c t a l l p l a n t s p e c i e s (EPA-440/9-75-006, 1975) . Any spec ies
chosen fo r a s e e d m i x m u s t b e s u i t a b l e t o t h e s o i l o r s u r f i c i a l
m a t e r i a l , t o p o g r a p h y , a n d c l i m a t e o f t h e t r e a t m e n t a r e a o r man must
so m a n i p u l a t e t h e s e f a c t o r s t o make them favourable. I n a d d i t i o n ,
the chosen spec ies shou ld f i t a n y s p e c i a l c o v e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c 5 , o f
t h e a r e a , e s p e c i a l l y g r o w t h h a b i t .
An e r o s i o n c o n t r o l seed m i x may c o n t a i n f r o m t w o t o f i v e
g rasses and one to four legumes. The number o f s p e c i e s i n t h e s e e d
m i x will depend on t h e s o i l v a r i a b i l i t y and c l i m a t i c s e v e r i t y o f
t h e s p e c i f i c a r e a . U s u a l l y , s p e c i e s r e p l a c e m e n t i s p l a n n e d f o r i n
t h e seed m i x compos i t i on . One o r t w o r a p i d l y d e v e l o p i n g , s h o r t - l i v e d
s p e c i e s a r e i n c l u d e d t o p r o v i d e q u i c k c o v e r e s t a b l i s h m e n t . T h i s
will a l l o w s l o w e r d e v e l o p i n g , l o n g e r - l i v e d p e r e n n i a l s t o deve lop
and even tua l l y domina te t he p lan t commun i t y . All s p e c i e s c h o s e n f o r
a seed mix shou ld be compat ib le , w i t h such agg ress i ve spec ies as
Agrostis alba avo ided or m a i n t a i n e d a t l o w s e e d i n g r a t e s .
Legumes a r e n e c e s s a r y a d d i t i o n s t o t h e seed m i x
b e c a u s e t h e i r n i t r o g e n f i x a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t t o t h e s o i l n u t r i e n t
s t a t u s . Legume seeds mus t be p re - inoccu la ted w i th t he i r assoc ia ted
Rhizobium s t r a i n f o r e f f e c t i v e n o d u l a t i o n and subsequent n i t rogen
f i x a t i o n . I f legumes a r e t o compr ise a s i g n i f i c a n t p o r t i o n o f t h e
p r o t e c t i v e p l a n t c o v e r , n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n s h o u l d be a t minimum
l e v e l s , 30-50 kg/ha. I t can take the legumes two or t h r e e y e a r s t o
20
r e a c h m a t u r i t y i n a grass- legume cover . A t t h a t p o i n t t h e y will b e
e f f e c t i v e i n c o n t r o l l i n g e r o s i o n as w e l l a s a d d i n g n i t r o g e n t o t h e
p l a n t - s o i l s y s t e m .
T i m e o f Seed A p p l i c a t i o n
The t i m e o f seed a p p l i c a t i o n i s m a i n
t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n . B o t h s p r i n g
can be successful when p r o p e r p r e c a u t i o n s a r e f o l
1 y determined by
and fa1 1 seed ings
lowed. The
e s t a b l i s h i n g s e e d i n g s s h o u l d be a t l e a s t 6-8 weeks o l d b e f o r e b e i n g
s u b j e c t e d t o a p e r i o d o f c l i m a t i c s t r e s s , i . e . , d r o u g h t o r f r o s t . I n
many i n s t a n c e s , t h i s i s n o t p o s s i b l e due t o t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f w e a t h e r
c o n d i t i o n s from year t o yea r . To h e l p o v e r c o m e t h i s s i t u a t i o n , s p e c i e s
p r e f e r r i n g b o t h s p r i n g and f a l l sow ing shou ld be used i n t he m ix . T h i s
will h e l p e n s u r e v i a b l e seed t o be on the ground when s u i t a b l e
germinat ing and g rowing cond i t ions occur . The use o f a mulch may be
o f b e n e f i t t o p r e s e r v e s o i l m o i s t u r e f o r a l a t e - s p r i n g s e e d i n g or
p r e v e n t e a r l y f r o s t damage. An a l t e r n a t e a p p r o a c h w o u l d be t h e
use o f a temporary seed ing of one o r t w o r a p i d l y e s t a b l i s h i n g s p e c i e s
fo l l owed by a permanent seeding when t h e s e a s o n i s p r o p e r .
Seed i ng ra tes - The p r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e i n e r o s i o n c o n t r o l s e e d i n g i s t h e
f o r m a t i o n o f a q u i c k , d e n s e v e g e t a t i v e c o v e r . The seed bed
c o n d i t i o n s o n e r o s i v e s l o p e s u s u a l l y p r e s e n t a harsh env i ronment
f o r p l a n t e s t a b l i s h m e n t . F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s , t h e r a t e o f s e e d
a p p l i c a t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y much h i g h e r t h a n t h o s e u s e d f o r agronomic
or range purposes . A l though the cos t o f seed may b e h i g h i n e r o s i o n
c o n t r o l , t h e c o s t t o r o a d s t a b i l i t y a n d w a t e r q u a l i t y will be
h i g h e r i f an i nadequa te cove r deve lops . Ano the r po in t t o cons ide r
i s t h a t t h e c o s t o f seed i s u s u a l l y a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h e t o t a l c o s t
i n a revege ta t ion program and an
l i t t l e o v e r a l l e f f e c t o n t h e t o t a
The s e e d i n g r a t e i s
composi t i o n o f t h e seed m i x . The
pe r I:i logram of seed v a r i e s g r e a t 1
n c r e a s e i n s e e d i n g r a t e h a s
c o s t . a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e s p e c i e s
number o f 1 i ve pure seeds (LPS)
y f r o m s p e c i e s t o s p e c i e s .
21
For example, Agrostis alba ( red top ) has app rox ima te l y 10 mill i o n
seeds per k i l og ram, wh i l e Loliwn muZtif loruv (annua l ryegrass)
has 450 thousand seeds per k i logram.
Climate and method o f seed a p p l i c a t i o n a l s o p l a y an
i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n d e t e r m i n i n g s e e d i n g r a t e s . H i g h e r s e e d l o s s a n d
s e e d l i n g m o r t a l i t y c a n be e x p e c t e d w i t h b r o a d c a s t seed a p p l i c a t i o n
t h a n w i t h d r i l l e d seed sowing. The s o i l o f f e r s i m p o r t a n t p r o t e c t i o n
t o t h e s e e d a n d g e r m i n a n t u n t i l t h e v e g e t a t i o n f u l l y e s t a b l i s h e s .
A g e n e r a l r u l e i s t o a t l e a s t d o u b l e t h e r a t e o f seed a p p l i c a t i o n f o r
b roadcas t me thods ove r t ha t o f seed d r i l l i ng . B roadcas t seed ing ra tes
f o r t h e w e t c o a s t a l e n v i r o n m e n t c a n r a n g e f r o m f i f t y t o o n e h u n d r e d
k i l o g r a m s p e r h e c t a r e . D r y i n t e r i o r a r e a s may be seeded a t t w e n t y t o
t h i r t y k i l o g r a m s p e r h e c t a r e . The d i f f e r e n c e i s p a r t i a l l y due t o
t h e s e v e r i t y o f e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l a n d t o t h e g r o w t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o f a d a p t a b l e p l a n t s p e c i e s .
The most r e l i a b l e m e t h o d o f d e t e r m i n i n g t h e r a t e o f seed
a p p l i c a t i o n i s t o c o n s u l t w i t h p e o p l e e x p e r i e n c e d i n e r o s i o n c o n t r o l
o r o t h e r r e l a t e d d i s c i p l i n e s . E x p e r i e n c e i s i n v a l u a b l e i n a l l
a reas o f e ros ion con t ro l ; seed ing ra tes and seed m ix se lec t i o r , a re
n o e x c e p t i o n s t o t h i s r u l e .
CONCLUSION
S u r f a c e e r o s i o n f r o m f o r e s t r o a d s l o p e s p r e s e n t s a
d e f i n i t e , a l t h o u g h n o t h i g h l y v i s i b l e p r o b l e m t o a f o r e s t manager.
Road s t a b i l i t y and ad jacen t s t ream wa te r qua l i t y can be adve rse l y
a f f e c t e d by t h e t r a n s p o r t a n d a c c u m u l a t i o n o f e r o d e d m a t e r i a l .
Revegeta t ion o f these denuded s lopes upon comp le t i on o f cons t ruc t i on
a c t i v i t i e s i s a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p i n c o n t r o l l i n g s u r f a c e e r o s i o n .
Grasses and legumes are the main types o f vegetat ion used
f o r r a p i d e r o s i o n c o n t r o l . S p e c i e s c h o s e n f o r u s e s h o u l d b e c o m p a t i b l e
i n a s e e d m i x a n d a d a p t a b l e t o t h e s o i l a n d c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s .
The method of a p p l y i n g t h e seed m i x will depend on s lope steepness
a n d e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l , f i n a n c i a l c o m m i t m e n t , a n d e q u i p m e n t a v a i l a b i l i t y .
I n most cases, f e r t i 1 i z e r c a n be a p p l i e d t o t h e s l o p e s w i t h t h e seed
m i x . F e r t i l i z a t i o n i s n o t o n l y n e c e s s a r y w i t h i n i t i a l seeding, b u t
p o s t c o n s t r u c t i o n f e r t i l i z a t i o n i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t i n m a i n t a i n i n g a
v i g o r o u s and e f f e c t i v e e r o s i o n r e s i s t a n t p l a n t c o v e r .
The e n c l o s e d a p p e n d i c e s s h o u l d a i d i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f
p l a n t s p e c i e s s u i t a b l e f o r u s e a t a p a r t i c u l a r s i t e . W i t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f e r o s i o n c o n t r o l and w i t h p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e i n
r e v e g e t a t i o n p l a n n i n g a n d o p e r a t i o n s , s u c c e s s f u l s i t e r e v e g e t a t i o n
a n d e r o s i o n c o n t r o l s h o u l d become r e l a t i v e l y s t r a i g h t - f o r w a r d t a s k s .
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For. and Range Exp. Sta. , Por t land, Oregon. 19 pp.
24
Dyrness , C .T . 1970 . S tab i l i za t i on o f new ly cons t ruc ted road backs lopes by
mulch and grass- legume t reatments. USDA F o r e s t S e r v i c e
Research Note PNW-123. Pac. Nor thwest For. and Range
Exp. S ta . , Por t land, Oregon, 5 pp .
Fredr icksen, R .L . 1965. Sediment a f t e r l o g g i n g r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n i n
a s m a l l western Oregon watershed. Federa l In teragency
Sediment Conference, 1963. USDA M i s c e l l a n e o u s P u b l i c a t i o n
970, Paper #8 . Washington D . C . 4 pp.
H a f e n r i c h t e r , A . L . , e t a l . 1963. Grasses and legumes f o r s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n
i n t h e P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t and Great Bas in States. U . S . D . A .
A g r i c u l t u r a l Handbook #339. 69 pp.
Kay, B.L. 1976. Hydroseed ing , s t raw , and chemica ls f o r e ros ion
c o n t r o l . Agronomy Progress Repor t # 7 7 . U n i v . o f C a l . ,
Dav is . 14 pp.
Kay, B . L . 1977. Mulches f o r erosion control and plant establishment.
P r o c e e d i n g s o f E i g h t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l E r o s i o n C o n t r o l A s s o c .
Conf . , Seat t le , Wash ing ton . pp . 56-66. MacLauchlan, R . S . 1966. Grasses and legumes f o r s t a b i l i z i n g s i l t
p r o d u c i n g a r e a s i n t h e n o r t h w e s t ( U . S . A . ) . Symposium
o n p r a c t i c a l a s p e c t s o f F o r e s t W a t e r s h e d Management.
Oregon S ta te Un ivers i ty , March 29-30 , 1966. pp. 75-84. Megahan, W.F. 1974. D e e p - r o o t e d p l a n t s f o r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l o n
g r a n i t i c r o a d f i l l s i n t h e I d a h o B a t h o l i t h . USDA
Fores t Serv ice Research Paper . INT 161. I n t e r m o u n t a i n
For. and Range Exp. S ta . , Ogden, Utah . 22 pp .
P i c k e t t , T. 1979. S teep-s lope seeder f o r roads ide s lope
r e v e g e t a t i o n . P a p e r p r e s e n t e d a t : S o i l E r o s i o n and
Sed imenta t ion Cont ro l Shor t Course , O lympia , Wash ing ton ,
Jan. 30-31. Cooperat ive Extens ion Serv ice, Washington
S t . U n i v e r s i t y . 9 pp.
U . S . Env i ronmen ta l P ro tec t i on Agency . 1975. Methods o f q u i c k l y
v e g e t a t i n g s o i l s o f l o w p r o d u c t i v i t y , c o n s t r u c t i o n
a c t i v i t i e s . E.P.A. P u b l i c a t i o n No. EPA-440/9-75-006.
Washington, D . C . 467 pp.
APPENDIX I
D e s c r i p t i o n o f some i m p o r t a n t e r o s i o n c o n t r o l g r a s s a n d legume spec ies .
There a re many grasses and a few legumes that have shown
u s e f u l n e s s i n t h e r e v e g e t a t i o n of f o r e s t r o a d s . The f o l l o w i n g s p e c i e s
have been recommended by B r i nk (1964) , MacLauch 1 an (1966) , Berg 1 und (1 976) , o r C a r r ( 1 9 7 7 ) f o r r e v e g e t a t i o n i n t h e f o r e s t e n v i r o n m e n t . The
s p e c i e s a r e b r o k e n i n t o u s e g r o u p s s i m i l a r t o t h o s e o f t h e m a i n
s o u r c e f o r d e s c r i p t i o n , G r a s s e s a n d Legumes f o r S o i l C o n s e r v a t i o n i n
t h e P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t a n d G r e a t B a s i n S t a t e s , U . S . D . A . Handbook #339. These groups are:
I .
I I .
I l l .
I V .
V .
V I .
V I I .
V I I I .
Rap id -deve lop ing , Shor t - l i ved Grasses
Rap id-deve lop ing , Long- l i ved Grasses
D r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , L o n g - l i v e d Bunch Grasses
D r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , L o n g - l i v e d Sod Grasses
B 1 uegrasses
F ine- leaved, Long- l ived, Sod-Forming Grasses
Wet Meadowland Grasses
Legumes
Group 1 - R a p i d - d e v e l o p i n g , S h o r t - l i v e d G r a s s e s :
These g rasses a re rap id i n s i t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t w i t h
f a s t g r o w i n g , s t r o n g s e e d l i n g s . They g e n e r a l l y r e a c h f u l l p r o d u c t i o n
i n 2-3 seasons and any f u r t h e r l o n g e v i t y d e p e n d s o n n a t u r a l r e s e e d i n g .
S lender wheatgrass , Agropyron trachycaulurn ( L i n k . ) M a l t e ,
i s a r a p i d - e s t a b l i s h i n g , s h o r t - l i v e d , medium h e i g h t
(60-120 cm) bunch g rass . Th is spec ies i s a d a p t a b l e
t o a w ide range o f s o i l s a n d c l i m a t e s , b e i n g c o l d -
ha rdy and requ i r i ng 35 -100 cm a n n u a l r a i n f a l l . I t
has been shown t o be p e r s i s t e n t i n h i g h e l e v a t i o n s .
S lender whea tg rass i s commerc ia l l y ava i l ab le and t he
Prirnar v a r i e t y i s u s e d w i d e l y f o r s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n .
26
I t a 1 i a n ( a n n u a l ) r y e g r a s s , Loliurn rnultiflorwn Lam., i s
a l s o a f a s t - e s t a b l i s h i n g , s h o r t - l i v e d , medium h e i g h t
b u n c h g r a s s . I t , h o w e v e r , i s n o t as w i d e l y a d a p t a b l e
as s l e n d e r w h e a t g r a s s . T h i s s p e c i e s i s n o t c o l d -
hardy and does not f a i r w e l l o n e x c e s s l v e l y d r a i n e d
o r m o i s t s o i 1 s . When f a 1 1 p l a n t e d w i t h n i t r o g e n
f e r t i l i z e r , i t r a p i d l y e s t a b l
on bare s lopes . I t i s an agg
s h o u l d n o t b e u s e d h e a v i l y i n
r y e g r a s s i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i
v a r i e t i e s .
I
r
1
s h e s a n e f f e c t i v e c o v e r
ess ive spec ies and
a seed mix. I t a l i a n
a b l e i n s e v e r a l
Pe renn ia l r yeg rass , Loliwn perenne L . , i s a s h o r t - 1 i v e d
p e r e n n i a l t h a t has the same range o f a d a p t a t i o n as
common r y e g r a s s ( a n n u a l ) . A l t h o u g h s l i g h t l y s l o w e r
t h a n a n n u a l r y e g r a s s i n e s t a b l i s h i n g , i t i s as
p r o d u c t i v e and more p e r s i s t e n t . P e r e n n i a l r y e -
g rass requ i res a minimum o f 40 cm a n n u a l r a i n f a l l
and good s o i l d r a i n a g e . I t will n o t p e r s i s t i n
a r e a s w i t h c l i m a t i c e x t r e m e s o f c o l d , h e a t , o r
d r o u g h t . T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e
v a r i e t i e s o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t e r o s i o n c o n t r o l g r a s s .
B l u e w i l d r y e , EZymus gZaucus B u c h l . , i s a med ium- l i ved ,
t a l l , r a p i d - e s t a b l i s h i n g b u n c h g r a s s . I t i s c o l d -
t o l e r a n t , r e q u i r e s 35 cm a n n u a l r a i n f a l l , a n d does
w e l l o n f o r e s t s o i l s . T h i s s p e c i e s i s u n i q u e i n
t h a t i t i s c o m p a t i b l e w i th woody v e g e t a t i o n a n d will
n o t c o m p e t e w i t h t r e e seed1 ings. B l u e w i l d r y e i s
commerc ia l l y ava i l ab le and can be used for permanent
cove r .
Meadow fescue, Festuca e l a t i o r L . , i s a medium l i v e d ,
r a p i d - e s t a b l i s h i n g b u n c h g r a s s . I t i s t a l l , c o l d -
ha rdy , and shade to le ran t . Th i s spec ies requ i res
60 cm MAP (mean a n n u a l p r e c i p i t a t i o n ) and i s
a d a p t e d t o c o o l , m o i s t s i t e s . Meadow fescue i s
c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e .
T a l l o a t g r a s s , Arrhenatherwn e l a t i u s ( L . ) P r e s l . ,
i s a n o t h e r t a l l , m e d i u m - l i v e d , r a p i d - g r o w i n g b u n c h
g rass . I t i s a c o l d - h a r d y , s h a d e t o l e r a n t s p e c i e s
t h a t i s c o m p a t i b l e w i t h legumes. T a l l o a t g r a s s i s
b e s t a d a p t e d t o w e l l - d r a i n e d s o i l s , b u t w i l
e x c e s s i v e l y d r a i n e d , l o w - f e r t i l i t y s o i l s .
i s c o m m e r i c a l l y a v a i l a b l e b u t i s expens ive ,
may limit i t s use i n c o n s e r v a t i o n p r a c t i c e s
1
T
t o l e r a t e
he seed
wh ich
Group I I Rap id-deve lop ing , Long- l i ved Grasses
These grasses combine rap id and easy estab l ishment wi th long
l i f e . They grow dur ing cool , we t wea the r i n t he f a1 1 , s p r i n g o r e a r l y
summer bu t do no t endure d rough t .
Orchardgrass , Dactylis gZomerate L . , i s a r a p i d -
e s t a b l i s h i n g , t a l l , p e r e n n i a l b u n c h g r a s s t h a t f o r m s
a dense l ong - l i ved cove r . I t i s n o t d r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t
and r e q u i r e s a t l e a s t 4 5 cm MAP. Th i s spec ies has
been shown t o e s t a b l i s h w e l l i n h i g h e l e v a t i o n s , b u t
i s s u b j e c t t o s e v e r e w i n t e r k i 1 1 and may t h e r e f o r e n o t
p e r s i s t . O r c h a r d g r a s s t h r i v e s o n we1 1 - d r a i n e d , f e r t i l e
s o i l s t h a t a r e n e u t r a l t o s l i g h t l y a c i d . I t i s a v a i l a b l e
i n s e v e r a l c o m m e r c i a l v a r i e t i e s .
Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Shreb., is another
long-lived, perennial bunch grass that forms a very
tough, densely rooted cover. It is a tall, cold-
hardy species that requires 35 cm MAP. Tall fescue
is unique among Group I I species in that it does
well on poorly-drained, wet saline or saline-sodic
soils and can survive short winter flooding. It is
excellent for erosion control, and is mainly available
as Al ta or Kentucky 31 fescue.
Smooth brome,
tal 1 , long-
this group.
Bromus i n e m i s Leyss, is a fast-deve
lived perennial as are the other spec
However, it i s not a bunch grass but
loping,
ies in
a spreading or sod type grass. It is cold-hardy, and does well in high elevations, but this grass has a
high nitrogen requirement and i s best adapted to well- drained, fertile soils. Smooth brome is commercially
available and does best with a spring planting.
Intermediate wheatgrass, Agropyron in t e rmed im (Host.) Beauv., is a mild sod forming grass that is best
adapted to well drained, non-saline or alkaline
soils. It i s a tall grass (100-125 cm) that requires
an annual precipitation of at least 40 cm. This
grass does well in seed mixes and can withstand
moderate grazing. Intermediate wheatgrass is more frost
tolerant than smooth brome and is commercially available
in a number of varieties.
Group I l l D r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , L o n g - l i v e d , Bunch Grasses
T h e s e g r a s s e s a r e t y p i c a l l y s l o w - d e v e l o p i n g , b u t
e s t a b l i s h e d s t a n d s a r e p e r s i s t e n t a n d c a n s u r v i v e l o n g p e r i o d s o f
d r o u g h t .
Cres ted wheatgrass , Agropyron desertorurn ( F i s c h . ) S h u l t . ,
i s a v e r y d r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , medium he igh t bunch
g r a s s . I t i s co ld -ha rdy , shade- to le ran t , and pe r fo rms
w e l l i n h i g h e l e v a t i o n s . T h i s g r a s s o n l y r e q u i r e s
20-35 cm MAP, and e s t a b l i s h e d s t a n d s c a n p e r s i s t u p
t o 30 y e a r s . C r e s t e d w h e a t g r a s s i s a s low-deve loper ,
t a k i n g u p t o 2 yea rs t o f u l l y e s t a b l i s h . I t does
b e s t i n a r i d t o s e m i - a r i d c l i m a t e s and on coarse t o
medium t e x t u r e d s o i l s . The seed i s c o m m e r c i a l l y
a v a i l a b l e and does we l l in seed mixes .
S i b e r i a n w h e a t g r a s s , Agropyron sibiricwn (Wi 1 I d . )
Beauv., i s s i m i l a r t o c r e s t e d w h e a t g r a s s e x c e p t t h a t
i t i s more p e r s i s t e n t i n a r i d c l i m a t e s a n d has a two
week l o n g e r g r o w i n g p e r i o d . I t t o o i s commerc ia l l y
a v a i l a b l e .
B1 uebunch wheatgrass, Agrophyron spicatum (Pursh.)
Schrub. and Smith, i s a l o n g - l i v e d , s l o w - d e v e l o p i n g
spread ing bunch g rass . I t has a w i d e d i s t r i b u t i o n ,
b u t i s b e s t a d a p t e d t o a coo l sub-humid c l imate . B luebunch
wheatgrass f o r m s a t o u g h p e r s i s t e n t s o d - t y p e c o v e r .
However, i t i s n o t a s y e t a r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e c o m m e r c i a l
spec ies .
Ta l 1 wheatgrass, Agropyron eZongatm (Host.) Beauv., i s
a t a l l , v i g o r o u s b u n c h g r a s s t h a t i s w e l l a d a p t e d t o
s a l i n e and a l k a l i n e s o i l c o n d i t i o n s . I t i s l a t e
ma tu r ing bu t has good l ongev i t y and ha rd iness . Ta l l
wheatgrass does bes t in the 35-70 cm r a i n f a l l r a n g e .
Being a non-aggress i ve g rass , i t shou ld be used i n
seed m ixes w i th on l y one or two o t h e r s p e c i e s .
Group IV D r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , L o n g - l i v e d , Sod Grasses
The d r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t , l o n g - l i v e d sod g r a s s e s o f t h i s
g roup have l a rge seeds and s t rong seed l i ng v igo r t ha t makes them
easy t o e s t a b l i s h .
Pubescent wheatgrass, Agropyron trichophorwn ( L i n g . )
R i c h t . , a t a l l , l o n g - l i v e d , s l o w - d e v e l o p i n g s o d
spec ies , fo rms a v e r y d u r a b l e and p e r s i s t e n t t u r f
c o v e r o n c e e s t a b l i s h e d . I t i s a d a p t a b l e t o a w ide
range o f p r e c i p i t a t i o n , t e m p e r a t u r e , a n d e l e v a t i o n s .
Pubescent wheatgrass i s b e s t a d a p t e d t o w e l l d r a i n e d ,
s l i g h t l y a c i d t o s l i g h t l y a l k a l i n e s o i l . I t has very
good d r o u g h t - t o l e r a n c e , r e q u i r e s a minimum amount o f
rna inta inance, and i s e x c e l l e n t f o r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l .
The seed i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e and i s a d a p t a b l e
t o a f a l l or s p r i n g p l a n t i n g .
Streambank wheatgrass, Agropyron r i p a r i w n Schr ib . and
Smith, i s a n o t h e r d r o u g h t - t o l e r a n t s o d g r a s s t h a t i s
a d a p t e d t o a wide range o f c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s . T h i s
species has a q u i c k g e r m i n a t i n g s e e d t h a t r a p i d l y
e s t a b l i s h e s a shor t dense cover wh ich i s n o t p a l a t a b l e
t o w i l d l i f e . I t i s a p r e f e r r e d s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n
s p e c i e s , b u t i t shou ld no t be used on wet s i t e s
where i t i s n o t v e r y c o m p e t i t i v e .
31
Group V B I uegrasses
The b l u e g r a s s e s a r e w i d e l y u s e d t h r o u g h o u t N o r t h
Amer i ca i n conse rva t i on work . The re a re two t ypes of b lueg rasses ,
summer ac t ive-w in te r dormant and the w in te r ac t i ve-summer dormant
t h a t e s c a p e d r o u g h t .
B i g b l u e g r a s s , Poa ampla M e r r . , i s a w i n t e r a c t i v e -
summer dormant , long- l i ved bunch g rass . I t i s t a l l ,
c o l d - h a r d y , a n d r e q u i r e s a t l e a s t 30 cm MAP. B i g
b l u e g r a s s i s s l o w i n e s t a b l i s h i n g , t a k i n g u p t o t w o
yea rs t o ma tu re , and can be t roub lesome to ge t s ta r ted .
H o w e v e r , o n c e e s t a b l i s h e d , i t s c o v e r i s v e r y d u r a b l e
a n d p e r s i s t e n t . I t i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e i n
s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t e c o t y p e s .
Kentucky b luegrass . Poa pratensis L . , i s one o f t h e
summer a c t i v e - w i n t e r d o r m a n t b l u e g r a s s e s . I t i s a
s h o r t , s o d - f o r m i n g p e r e n n i a l t h a t , w h i ' l e b e i n g d r o u g h t -
t o l e r a n t , has a h i g h e r r a i n f a l l r e q u i r e m e n t t h a n m o s t
grasses, 50-100 cm a n n u a l l y . T h i s s p e c i e s i s m o d e r a t e l y
shade- to le ran t and does es tab l i sh on w e l l - d r a i n e d
a n d s h a l l o w , r o c k y s o i l s . K e n t u c k y b l u e g r a s s i s
s low-deve lop ing b u t p e r s i s t e n t once e s t a b l i s h e d . The
seed i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e i n s e v e r a l i m p r o v e d
v a r i e t i e s .
Canada b l u e g r a s s , Poa compressa L . , i s s i m i l a r t o
Kentucky b luegrass , be ing a s h o r t , s o d - f o r m i n g
p e r e n n i a l o f t h e summer a c t i v e t y p e . I t i s slow e s t a b l i s h i n g
b u t d u r a b l e , and does w e l l on l o w - f e r t i l i t y and m i l d l y
a c i d s o i l s . Canada b lueg rass i s w i d e l y u s e d f o r e r o s i o n
c o n t r o l on roadsides and cut and f i l l s lopes .
3 2
Group VI F ine- leaved, Long- l i ved , Sod- fo rming Grasses
These g rasses have an abundant g rowth o f f ine leaves and
t o u g h r o o t s t h a t make them e x c e l l e n t s p e c i e s f o r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l .
Hard Fescue, Festuca ovina var. duriusuZa (L. ) Koch, i s
a sho r t -g row ing , t ough sod - fo rm ing g rass . I t i s a
l o n g - l i v e d a n d v e r y c o l d - t o l e r a n t s p e c i e s , h a v i n g n o
e l e v a t i o n o r f r o s t l i m i t a t i o n . H a r d f e s c u e i s b e s t
adapted t o w e l l - d r a i n e d , n e a r n e u t r a l s o i l s and
r e q u i r e s 35-45 cm MAP. The seed i s a v a i l a b l e i n
s e v e r a l v a r i e t i e s , b u t b e i n g s l o w d e v e l o p i n g , i t
must be used i n a seed m i x t u r e .
Red fescue, Festuca rubra L. , i s a l o n g - l i v e d , t u f t e d
s o d - f o r m i n g p e r e n n i a l . I t has a h i g h e r m o i s t u r e
r e q u i r e m e n t t h a n h a r d f e s c u e a n d i s n o t a d a p t e d t o h i g h
e l e v a t i o n s . Red fescue has a w e l l d e v e l o p e d r o o t
system, and i s w i d e l y u s e d fo r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l . I t ,
l i k e h a r d f e s c u e , i s s l o w - d e v e l o p i n g a n d m u s t be
used i n a seed m i x t u r e .
Sheep fescue, Festuca ovina v a r . sulcata ( L . ) Koch,
a s h o r t , s p r e a d i n g b u n c h g r a s s , i s t h e m o s t d r o u g h t -
t o l e r a n t s p e c i e s o f t h i s g r o u p . I t i s s l o w d e v e l o p i n g ,
but forms a t o u g h , p e r s i s t e n t c o v e r and i s w i d e l y
used for s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n . The seed i s a v a i l a b l e
c o m m e r c i a l l y , b u t i s o f t e n more expensive than most
g rasses .
Group VI1 Wet Meadowland Grasses
These grasses grow on p o o r l y - d r a i n e d o r h
s o i l s . They a r e m o d e r a t e l y d r o u g h t - r e s i s t a n t a n d c a n
p e r i o d s o f f l o o d i n g .
l e i g h w a t e r t a b
s u r v i v e l o n g
33
Redtop, Agrostis aZba L. , is a short, dense and vigorous
growing creeping turf-grass. It is well adapted to
moist lands in the Pacific Northwest. Redtop i s
moderately drought-tolerant, cold-hardy, and tolerant
of wet acid, low-fertility soils. This species is
commercially available and used extensively on waterways and drainages.
Meadow foxtail, AZopecms pratensis L . , is a fast-
establishing, long-lived bunch grass. It has a wide
elevation range, from sea-level to alpine meadows, and does well on poorly-drained, acid soils. The
seed is commerically available, should be planted in
early spring, and needs a fertile seed bed.
Reed canarygrass, PhaZaris arundinaces L . , is a tall,
slow-establ i shing, spreading bunch grass. This
species is cold-hardy and well adapted to fertile, poorly-drained soils. It is commercially available,
but not being shade-tolerant, it should not be used
in a seed mixture. Reed canarygrass is especially
good against water erosion because it effectively
traps silt and sediment.
Timothy, PhZem pratense L . , is a medium-lived, tall
rapid-establishing bunch grass. It is cold-hardy
and has proven t o be a good species for high elevations. This species is adaptable to many soils, but does best on poorly-drained, moderately acid soils. It
can survive only short flooding and is available in two widely used varieties.
34
f a l l o u t o f a t u r f s t a n d a f t e r a b o u t o n e y e a r a n d
more research be done i n t h i s a r e a f o r t h e f o r e s t
A l f a l f a , Medicago sa t iva L . , i s a co
l i v e d , p e r e n n i a l l e g u m e . I t has a
and s o i l r a n g e t h a n most o t h e r l e g
Group V I I I Legumes
The use o f legumes w i t h g r a s s m i x t u r e s i s recommendable
on s o i l s o f l o w n i t r o g e n s t a t u s . The legumes a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t
t o t h e p l a n t - s o i l s y s t e m b e c a u s e o f t h e i r n i t r o g e n - f i x i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s .
Heavy n i t r o g e n f e r t i l i z a t i o n s h o u l d be a v o i d e d w i t h g r a s s - l e g u m e m i x t u r e s ,
f o r a d d i t i o n a l n i t r o g e n l o w e r s t h e a b i l i t y o f t h e legumes t o compete
w i t h t h e more aggressive grasses. Dyrness (1976) found legumes t o
s u g g e s t e d t h a t
env i ronment .
1 d-ha rdy , 1 ong-
w i d e r c l i m a t i c
umes, but does
require a well-drained, s l i g h t l y acid to modera te l y
a l k a l i n e s o i l and a t l e a s t 50 cm MAP. A l f a l f a
forms a v e r y p e r s i s t e n t s o d c o v e r , d o e s w e l l i n seed
mixes, and i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e i n s e v e r a l
v a r i e t i e s .
B i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l , Lotus comiculatus L. , i s a long-
l i v e d , p e r e n n i a l legume w i t h s h o r t , b r o a d l e a v e s .
I t i s c o l d - t o l e r a n t and i s a d a p t e d t o a v a r i e t y o f
c l i m a t e s a n d s o i l s . T h i s legume does w e l l o n i m p e r f e c t l y
d r a i n e d and s h a l l o w s o i l s , a n d i s m o d e r a t e l y a c i d -
t o l e r a n t . B i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l d o e s w e l l when m i x e d w i t h
o rcha rdg rass and i s a v a i l a b l e i n two commercial
v a r i e t i e s .
B i g t r e f o i l , Lotus uZiginosus Schkuhr, a modera te l y
co ld -hardy long-1 i ved , sod- type legume, has a v e r y
h i g h m o i s t u r e r e q u i r e m e n t o f a t l e a s t 60 cm MAP. I t
i s p a r t i c u l a r l y w e l l a d a p t e d t o p o o r l y - d r a i n e d , s t r o n g l y
a c i d i c s o i l s and can be success fu l l y m ixed w i th meadow
f o x t a i l . The seed i s c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e , b u t d u e t o
poo r seed p roduc t i on , i t i s r e l a t i v e l y e x p e n s i v e .
3 5
S u b t e r r a n e a n c l o v e r , T r i f o l i w n subterranem L . ,
perpe tua t ing annua l legume. I t can be d i f f i c u
b u t i s p e r s i s t e n t o n c e e s t a b l i s h e d . T h i s s p e c
i s a s e l f -
1 t t o s t a r t ,
I es
r e q u i r e s 4 5 cm MAP, and i s n o t a c i d or c o l d - t o l e r a n t .
S u b t e r r a n e a n c l o v e r i s u s u a l l y f a l l seeded w i t h annual
r yeg rass o r t a l l f e s c u e , and has two commercial ly
a v a i l a b l e v a r i e t i e s .
Red c l o v e r , T r i f o l i u n ; pratense L . , i s a low growing,
v igorous sod fo rming , perenn ia l legume. I t i s c o l d -
t o l e r a n t , and w e l l a d a p t e d t o d r a i n e d o r p o o r l y -
d r a i n e d s o i l s . Red c l o v e r i s s l i g h t l y a c i d - t o l e r a n t
and has a h i g h r a i n f a l l need o f a t l e a s t 60 crn a n n u a l l y .
T h i s c l o v e r d o e s w e l l i n m o i s t h u m i d a r e a s , i s
s h a d e - t o l e r a n t , a n d s l u g - r e s i s t a n t . The seed i s
commerc ia l l y ava i l ab le and can be used w i th o rcha rdg rass
or meadow f o x t a i l .
W h i t e c l o v e r , T r i f o l i u m repens L . , i s a v e r y s h o r t
perenn ia l legume. I t i s a w ide ly adapted legume tha t
r e q u i r e s a t l e a s t 45 crn MAP, t o l e r a t c q p o o r d r a i n a g e ,
and deve lops an ex tens ive roo t sys tem. Whi te c lover
i s an e x c e l l e n t n i t r o g e n f i x i n g p l a n t when p r o p e r l y
i n n o c u l a t e d p r i o r t o s e e d i n g a n d w h e r e t h e s o i l i s
n o t s t r o n g l y a l k a l i n e o r a c i d i c . T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l
i m p r o v e d v a r i e t i e s a v a i l a b l e , e a c h o f w h i c h o f f e r s
a p a r t i c u l a r g r o w t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .
S a i n f o i n , Unabrychis v i c i a e f o l i a Scop., i s a t a l l ,
lea fy herbaceous legume tha t i s easy t o e s t a b l i s h .
It i s f r o s t r e s i s t a n t , d r o u g h t t o l e r a n t , a n d r e q u i r e s
a t l e a s t 35 cm MAP. S a i n f o i n i s a t a l l , e r e c t p e r e n n i a l
legume t h a t does n o t t o l e r a t e p o o r l y d r a i n e d s o i l s . I t has
shown much promise as an e ros ion con t ro l legume on sou thern
Vancouver I s l and hyd roseed ing p lo t s ,
C i c a r m i l k v e t c h , AstrogaZus cicer L. , i s a long-1
p e r e n n i a l , s o d - f o r m i n g legume. I t i s one o f t h e
d r o u g h t t o l e r a n t legumes and does w e l l i n h i g h
i ved , more
a l t i t u d e s
(above 1000 m) . C i c a r m i l k v e t c h i s s l o w t o e s t a b l i s h
and seedl ings can be crowded out i n t h e f i r s t t w o
yea rs . Once e s t a b l i s h e d i t i s a v e r y p e r s i s t e n t
1 egume.
37
APPENDIX I I
S t a n d a r d i z e d d e s c r i p t i o n c r i t e r i a for grass and legume s i t e s u i t a b i l i t y
There a re many grass and legume species used i n r e v e g e t a t i o n
p r o g r a m s . F o r e a c h s p e c i e s , t h e r e a r e s p e c i f i c s o i l , c l i m a t i c , a n d
p h y s i o l o g i c a l p a r a m e t e r s t h a t d e t e r m i n e i t s s u i t a b i l i t y f o r use a t a
p a r t i c u l a r s i t e . I n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h Bob D o n a l d s o n o f B u c k e r f i e l d ' s
L i m i t e d , s t a n d a r d p l a n t d e s c r i p t i o n c r i t e r i a and a computer ized
s e l e c t i o n p r o g r a m h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d t o a i d i n t h e s p e c i e s s e l e c t i o n
p rocedure .
Each g rass or legume species i s d e s c r i b e d b y e l e v e n
v a r i a b l e s t o h e l p d e f i n e t h e s u i t a b i l i t y o f t h e p l a n t t o p a r t i c u l a r
s i t e and d e s i r e d c o v e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . T h e s e v a r i a b l e s h a v e from
t h r e e t o s i x c l a s s e s , The v a r i a b l e s and c l a s s a r e as f o l l o w s :
V a r i a b l e C l a s s D e s c r i p t i o n
E f f e c t i v e p r e c i p i t a t i o n (MAP)
pH t o l e r a n c e
Hard i ness
H e i g h t
20-39 cm 40-59 cm 60-79 cm 80-99 cm
100-149 cm 150 cm +
ac id (4 .5 -5 .5 ) s l i g h t l y a c i d (5.6-6.5) n e u t r a l ( 6 . 6 - 7 . 3 ) s l i g h t l y a l k a l i n e ( 7 . 4 - 8 . 0 ) a l k a l i n e ( 8 . 1 - 9 . 0 )
Po0 r F a i r Good E x c e l l e n t
v e r y s h o r t ( l e s s t h a n 25 cm) shor t (25-49 cm) medi urn (50-74 cm) t a l 1 (75-99 cm) v e r y t a l l (100 cm+)
V a r i a b l e
38
C l a s s D e s c r i p t i o n
Aggress i veness
S o i l s u i t a b i l i t y
P a l a t a b i l i t y
Dra i nage requ i rement s
Longev i t y
P l a n t g r o w t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
F e r t i 1 i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s
W C M S
L M H
P F G E
P F G E
P F G E
A B C D E
L M H
Weak Cornpatable Med i urn S t rong
L i g h t Med i urn Heavy
Po0 r F a i r Good E x c e l l e n t
Poor F a i r Good E x c e l l e n t
Po0 r Fa i r Good Exce 1 1 e n t
Annual bunchgrass Annual sod forming Perenn ia l bunchgrass Perenn i a 1 sod form i ng Other
Low Med i urn H igh
For a g i v e n v a r i a b l e , t h e s p e c i e s may be adaptab le t o more than one c lass.
An example i s Smooth brome: p r e c i p i t a t i o n r a n g e - c l a s s e s 2, 3, 4 , ; pH range - c l a s s e s 2, 3 , 4 ; s o i l s u i t a b i l i t y - c l a s s e s M , H.
39
Standard ized descr ip t ions have been comple ted f o r t h e
f o l l o w i n g g r a s s e s and legumes:
Common Name
Smooth brome
S a i n f o i n
T a l l f e s c u e
B i r d s f o o t t r e f o i l
P e r e n n i a l l u p i n e s
Beard less wheatgrass
i n te rmed ia te whea tg rass
Crested wheatgrass
Crested wheatgrass
Slender wheatgrass
Streambank wheatgrass
S i b e r i a n w h e a t g r a s s
Ta l 1 wheatgrass
Russian w i I d r y e
A l f a l f a ( R a m b l e r )
A l f a l f a ( A n i k )
A l s i k e c l o v e r
C i c e r m i l k v e t c h
W h i t e c l o v e r
S w e e t c 1 ove r
A l t a i w i l d r y e
Pubescent wheatgrass
Canada b l u e g r a s s
B i g b l u e g r a s s
Kentucky b luegrass
Red t o p
Hard fescue
Creep ing red fescue
Meadow f o x t a i l
C r e e p i n g f o x t a i l
Orchardgrass
Annual ryegrass
Perenn i a 1 r yeg rass
Reed canarygrass
T imothy
S c i e n t i f i c name
Bromus i n e m i s habrych i s v i c iae fo l ia Festuca arundinacea Lotus cornicula-tus Lupinus corniculatus Agropyron i n e m e Agropyron intemnediwn Agropyron cris tatwn ( fairway) Agropyron d e s e r t o m (summit) Agropyron trachycauewn Agropyron ripariwn Agropyron sibericwn Agropyron elongatwn E 2 ymus junceus Mediago sa t iva Mediago fa l ca ta Trifolium hybridwn Astragalus cicer Tri fo liwn repens Me Zi lotus s p p . Elymus angustus
Agropyron t r i c h o p h o m Poa compressa Poa ampla Poa pratensis Agros t i s a Zba Festuca ovina Festuca mbra AZopecms pratensis AZopecurus arundinaceus Dacty l i s g Zomerata Loliwn multiflomun Lo Ziwn perenne Pha Zaris armndinacea Phlewn pratense
40
To a i d i n t h e c h o i c e o f s p e c i e s s u i t a b l e f o r u s e a t a
p a r t i c u l a r s i t e , a s imple se lect ion computer program has been developed.
The p r o g r a m i n p u t i s t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r a r e a i n t e r m s
o f t h e s t a n d a r d d e s c r i p t i v e v a r i a b l e s . The area may be desc r ibed
us ing one t o a l l e l e v e n v a r i a b l e s , w h i c h depends on knowledge o f t h e
s i t e a n d d e s i r e d c o v e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . The p rog ram then se lec ts ou t
t h e s p e c i e s s u i t a b l e f o r u s e a t t h e p a r t i c u l a r s i t e . Once t h e s u i t a b l e
species are known, a seed mix can be composed. The f i n a l m i x a n d
p e r c e n t c o m p o s i t i o n o f e a c h s p e c i e s will depend on:
1 . seed ava i l ab i 1 i t y
2 . seed p r i c e
3 . seed q u a l i t y
4. number o f seeds pe r k i l og ram
5. aggress iveness
t h r o u g h t h e R e s e a r c h B r a n c h , V i c t o r i a . T h i s i s n o t a n
for B u c k e r f i e l d ' s L i m i t e d , o n l y a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f t h e
i n s t a n d a r d i z i n g g r a s s - l e g u m e d e s c r i p t i o n s t o a i d i n p
for s i t e r e v e g e t a t i o n .
T h i s p r o g r a m i s c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e a t B u c k e r f i e l d ' s
L imi ted , Burnaby . I t will a l s o be a v a i l a b l e on a r e s t r i c t e d b a s i s
endorsemen
i r coope r a t
l a n t s e l e c t
t
I on
I on
41
APPENDIX I l l
Examples of some g e n e r a l r o a d s i d e r e v e g e t a t i o n s e e d m i x t u r e s
The example seed mixes t o be g i ven were f o rmu la ted by N.R.
M i t c h e l l and T. W a l l a c e o f t h e Kamloops Forest Region. An u n p u b l i s h e d
p a p e r b y M i t c h e l l a n d W a l l a c e , R e h a b i l i t a t i o n S e e d i n g G u i d e l i n e s f o r
Areas Denuded o f V e g e t a t i o n , c o n t a i n s g e n e r a l s e e d m i x e s for r e v e g e t a t i n g
t h e f o l l o w i n g t y p e s o f denuded areas:
1. Permanent ly open roads - c u t s l o p e s , f i l l s l o p e s ,
was te and bor row a reas , and s idecas t mater ia l .
2. Permanent ly and temporar i l y abandoned roads , sk id roads ,
and landings.
3. S k i d t r a i l s , t a i l h o l d r o a d s , l o g g i n g d i s t u r b e d a r e a s ,
f i r eguards , and su r face shee t and r i l l eroded areas.
The spec ies se lec t i on
B i o g e o c l i m a t i c Zones o f B.C. (Tab
the g rass- legume mixes were ad jus
i n t h e seed mix i s based on t h e
1 e 1 ) . The species compos i t i o n o f
t e d t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r t h e v a r i a b i l i t y
i n seed q u a l i t y and seeds per k i logram.
On ly the mixes fo r permanent ly open roads will be g i v e n
(Tab le 2 ) . These mixes a re w ide rang ing and very genera l .
S i t e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s may r e q u i r e some a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e s e m i x e s .
H o w e v e r , t h e y a r e e x c e l l e n t e x a m p l e m i x e s f o r t h e v a r i o u s b i o g e o c l i m a t i c
zones and should be used i f a more s i t e s p e c i f i c m i x i s n o t known.
42
TAELE 1 . B i o g e o c l i r n a t i c Zone and Seed M ix
6 i ogeoc 1 i mat c Zone Seed M i x
Coastal Western Hemlock
Coastal Douglas F i r
Subalpine Englemann Spruce-Subalpine Fir
In te r i o r Wes te rn Hemlock
I n t e r i o r D o u g l a s F i r
Ponderosa P i ne-Bunchgrass
Car iboo Aspen-Lodgepole Pine-Douglas F i r
Sub Boreal Spruce
Boreal White and Black Spruce
Subalpine Mountain Hemlock
I
I
I 1
I
I l l
IV
V
V I
VI I
I
43
TABLE 2 Seed M i x D e s c r i p t i o n
M i x # FP rcen t P r e f e r r e d A I t e r n a t e
Composi t ion Species Spec i e5
I
I1
I1 I
IV
V
V I
VI I
30 20 10 10 2 0 10
30 30 20
5 10
5
30 30 2 0
5 10
5
50 2 5 10 IO 5
30 30 20
5 10
5
35 30
5 20 IO
30 30 I O 10 20
Perenn ia l Ryegrass Creep ing Red Fescue Hard Fescue Red t o p T i mothy Kentucky B luegrass Canada B1 uecrass Red C l o v e r B i r d s f o o t T r e f o i l A l s i k e C l o v e r W h i t e C l o v e r
Perenn i a1 Ryegrass Creep ing Red Fescue Hard Fescue T i mothy Orchardgrass Redtop Kentucky Bluegrass A l s i k e C l o v e r Wh i t e C l o v e r
Perenn i a 1 Ryegrass In termediate Wheatgrass Pubescent Wheatgr iss Creep ing Red Fescue Hard Fescue Kentucky B luegrass Canada B luegrass Wh i te C love r Red C love r A I f a 1 f a
Strearnbank wheatgrass Pubescent Wheatgrass Crested Wheatgrass Hard Fescue A l f a l f a Wh i te C love r
Perenn i a 1 Ryegrass Creep ing Red Fescue Pubescent Wheatgrass Kentucky B luegrass A l s i k e C l o v e r A 1 f a 1 f a
Perenn ia l Ryegrass Creep ing Red Fescue Canada B 1 ueg rass A l f a l f a A l s i k e C l o v e r
Perenn ia l Ryegrass Creep ing Red Fescue Kentucky B luegrass A l s i k e C l o v e r A 1 f a 1 f a
Orchardgrass Hard Fescue In termediate Wheatgrass (Greenar)
Wh i te C love r
Hard Fescue Kentucky B 1 ueg ras s
Red C love r
Hard Fescue Canada B luegrass Red C love r
MR-103