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Evaluation of Revegetation from Blanket Applied Composts on a Highway Construction Site
Applied Engineering in Agriculture
  • Russell Alan Persyn, South Dakota State University
  • Tom L. Richard, Pennsylvania State University
  • Thomas D. Glanville, Iowa State University
  • John M. Laflen, Iowa State University
  • Philip M. Dixon, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Abstract

Compost has been evaluated as a stormwater best management practice for erosion control, but site revegetation is the ultimate goal of most stormwater plans. In this study, three different composts applied as a surface layer or mulch at two depths of 5 and 10 cm were compared with topsoil and subsoil as a medium for crop growth and weed suppression during revegetation of a highway right-of-way. Compost was shown to be as effective as topsoil and subsoil controls for crop growth, while significantly reducing growth of weed species. There were no significant differences between 5- and 10-cm depths of composts, indicating that the shallower depth would be adequate for establishing a cover crop and achieving weed suppression. Compost mulches offer promising opportunities for crop and weed management during revegetation of roadsides and other disturbed landscapes.

Comments

This article is from Applied Engineering in Agriculture 23, no. 5 (2007): 631–635.

Access
Open
Copyright Owner
American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Russell Alan Persyn, Tom L. Richard, Thomas D. Glanville, John M. Laflen, et al.. "Evaluation of Revegetation from Blanket Applied Composts on a Highway Construction Site" Applied Engineering in Agriculture Vol. 23 Iss. 5 (2007) p. 631 - 635
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/philip-dixon/14/