Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
A vegetative cover has been the most practical protection against erosion of roadside soils. Since vegetation also has enhanced roads in safety and appearance, the establishment of a roadside cover has been a part of highway construction. Topsoil has greater organic matter content, tilth development, fertility level, and seed content. As a result, it has been used more successfully than subsoil to produce a vegetative cover and stabilize roadsides from erosion. Costs of salvaging and spreading topsoil make it desirable to seek ways of satisfactorily establishing a vegetative cover on subsoil materials along roadsides. Studies were conducted in 1962, ] 963 and 1964 for the South Dakota Department of Highways by South Dakota State University. Included were laboratory, greenhouse, and field examinations of several representative South Dakota soils in respect to management requirements for establishing satisfactory plant cover on disturbed areas
