Blowout revegetation on pipeline rights-of-way in the Texas Panhandle. Final report, June 1985--November 1990

摘要

Blowouts caused by wind erosion on pipeline rights-of-way (ROWS) that cross rangelands in the southwestern United States are of significant concern because diminished range productivity is affecting the relationship between ROW owners and pipeline companies and because protective soil cover over the pipelines is lost, causing potential safety hazards. A study to develop and evaluate speedy and cost-effective blowout stabilization and revegetation methods was conducted in Wheeler County, Texas. Seven methods were tested, and each method combined one or more components, as follows: (1) fence, grade, mulch, fertilize, crimp, and seed; (2) fence, grade, mulch, fertilize, and seed; (3) fence, grade, mulch, fertilize, and crimp; (4) grade, mulch, fertilize, crimp, and seed; (5) fence, grade, fertilize, and sprig; (6) grade, fertilize, and sprig; and (7) fence. A single application rate was used for the native hay mulch, fertilizer, and native grass seed mixture, and cost data were collected for each method during implementation. Soil loss/deposition was monitored for two years, and soil samples were collected and analyzed annually. The rate and type of vegetation established was measured by using the point-intercept method three times each year for five growing seasons. The cost of the methods ranged from about $800 to $3450 ha(sup (minus)1). All seven methods controlled wind erosion, but grass cover on areas treated with five of the seven methods was not equivalent to that on the adjacent rangeland after five years. The two methods that included sprigging produced grass cover equal to that of the adjacent rangeland in less than two growing seasons. An industry-wide saving of about one-quarter of a million dollars per year could be realized if only 550 acres of blowout area on ROWs were stabilized and revegetated by means of sprigging.