Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)

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Determining the suitability of native grasses for highway revegetation sod
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2007) Stott, Lance Vear; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tracy A.O. Dougher.
In past years, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has used hydroseeding, imprinting and drill seeding methods to revegetate highway construction sites with varying degrees of success. Ecological concerns have led researchers to consider using native species for revegetation as they are better suited to local environments, require less maintenance and do not pose a threat to adjacent ecosystems. In addition, the urgency for stabilizing areas of high erosion potential and that of establishing native plant cover quickly in order to prevent non-native plant and weed establishment, have led researchers to consider using native grass sod for highway revegetation. Twenty-one species of native grasses were selected in order to determine their suitability for sod production. Grasses were grown in six growth chambers; each mimicking one of the climates of the six selected California ecoregions. Mixtures of varying species included either one rhizomatous species with three bunch grasses, one rhizomatous species and five bunch grasses, two rhizomatous species with three bunch grasses, or two rhizomatous species with five bunch grasses.