Successional Establishment, Mowing Response, and Erosion Control Characteristics of Roadside Vegetation in Texas

摘要

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOTs) standard seed mix needs modifications to better address the issue of invasive species while the primary goal of erosion control can still be well achieved. The research objectives were to investigate: (1) the successional process of roadside grasses using TxDOT's seed mix and seeding procedure on field laboratory test plots and actual roadsides, (2) erosion control properties of vegetation on 12 new plots seeded with TxDOT's standard seed mix and 10 existing plots originally seeded with a non-TxDOT seed mix, and (3) the impacts of mowing on establishing and established grass communities. To achieve these objectives, the researchers conducted field laboratory experiments and actual highway roadside surveys. The results indicate that roadsides as maintained and mowed environments cannot be easily adapted by tall grass species (native or introduced). Short, sod-forming grasses, however, could grow better on roadsides.