ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Abstract. The West Virginia Divisions of Highways utilizes the establishment of grass cover as a temporary and permanent management practice to mediate the effects of erosion on highway construction sites. Current West Virginia regulations include five seed mixtures for permanent applications that include combinations of nine species. Six of these species are identified as invasive, and all nine species are considered introduced or both native and introduced. This research developed alternative seeding mixtures that include native species. A field survey of mean cover was completed at 24 roadside locations throughout the state. Results showed that half of the locations did not meet minimum vegetation cover requirements. The most frequently observed species included tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), two species included in the current seeding mixture and considered invasive. Five seed mixtures were developed and were defined for the following areas: 1) mowable areas, 2) cut and fills, 3) high elevation, 4) wet areas, and 5) cool season. Some native species in the mixtures include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash), purpletop (Tridens flavus (L.) Hitchc.), showy partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasiculata (Michx.) Greene), smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), switch grass (Panicum virgatum L.), panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC.), and black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.). Ultimately, the proposed mixtures will be field tested in a series of plot studies. Knowledge gained from this work will result in recommendations of seeding practices for roadside sites in West Virginia.