00474288

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http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1986/1075/1075-004.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...orre&publication_year=1986

Currently the Indiana Department of Highways is responsible for vegetation management on about 100,000 acres of roadside that receives at least one full cycle of mowing and includes other areas, such as medians and corridors adjacent to traffic lanes, that are mowed twice or three times. Both force-account and contract means are used at a total cost of $3,250,000/year. As an alternative to mechanical mowing, a program of chemical mowing was implemented for the state of Indiana in 1983 with 3 consecutive years of success with use on Interstate and dual-lane roads. Using a combination of primary growth retardant, cost-reducing additive, surfactant (detergent) to enhance penetration and primary broadleaf herbicide, a single spray application in the spring controls weeds, prevents seedhead formation, and retards growth of grass blades so that no further spraying or mechanical mowing is required for full-season vegetation management. By employing cost-saving combinations of material, costs are equal to or slightly higher than the per acre cost of a single mowing cycle. This program was designed primarily for use on tall fescue-bluegrass mixed turf and resulted in both seedhead suppression and weed control in excess of 90 percent. Those few seedheads that do form are short and do not appear unsightly. Weeds that remain are largely resistant perennials (common milkweed, Canada thistle, and horse nettle) and late-germinating annuals (black medic, upright spurge, common ragweed, wild lettuce, and various foxtails). Grass heights at the end of the growing season remain well within the standards (12 to 18 in.) of the state of Indiana to eliminate any need for mechanical mowing.

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Roadside Maintenance. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01418784

pp 15-18

1986

Transportation Research Record

0309040698

Print

Figures (3) ; Photos (2) ; References (3) ; Tables (5)

Grasses; Herbicides; Inhibitors (Chemistry); Landscape maintenance; Maintenance management; Medians; Mowing; Plant growth; Roadside; Vegetation; Weed control

Maintenance costs

Indiana

Indiana

Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods

TRIS, TRB

Oct 31 1987 12:00AM

• A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR ALABAMA HIGHWAY ROADSIDES
• AERIAL SEEDING
• DO WHITE-TAILED DEER AVOID RED? AN EVALUATION OF THE PREMISE UNDERLYING THE DESIGN OF SWAREFLEX WILDLIFE REFLECTORS (DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)
• FISH PASSAGE THROUGH POPLAR GROVE CREEK CULVERT, ALASKA
• PILOT STUDY OF SMALL-SCALE MONITORING METHODS OF HERBICIDE RESIDUES IN SOIL AND WATER
• POSTEMERGENCE CONTROL OF CRABGRASS IN TRANSITION ZONE TURF USING MSMA AND FENOXAPROP
• RIGHT-OF-WAY FORESTRY FOR A 6.7-MILE SECTION OF I-95 IN MAINE
• ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN IDAHO
• USE OF ROADSIDE PLANTINGS BY SONGBIRDS FOR NESTING