Native Grass Sod: An Innovative Tool for Reducing Erosion Along Highways: Introduction

摘要

The objective of this part of this study was to evaluate a number of native species and reinforcement materials for their suitability for contributing to a harvestable multispecies sod for roadside rehabilitation. This experiment began with an investigation of the basic characteristics of three native grass sods produced by three different commercial farms. While successfully grown in relative small, controlled experimental settings, it was critical to establish the characteristics of these sods when produced at the larger scale necessary for their practical use on highway projects. Tests indicated weedy grass species were present in the highway soil seed bank, and slow development of seeded native grass species provided ample time for invasive species to propagate from the seed bank.