Details:

Creators:
Dudley, Megan M. ; Jacobi, William R. ; Brown, Cynthia. S.
Dudley, Megan M. ; Jacobi, William R. ; Brown, Cynthia. S. Less -
Corporate Creators:
Colorado. DTD Applied Research and Innovation Branch
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Federal Highway Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Deicing Chemicals Deicing Chemicals--Environmental Aspects--Colorado Environmental Impacts Roadside Flora And Fauna Roadside Improvement--Colorado Roadside Plants--Effect Of Magnesium On--Colorado
Publication/ Report Number:
CDOT-2011-2
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Colorado
Edition:
Final; 7/7/08 to 12/31/2010.
Corporate Publisher:
Colorado. DTD Applied Research and Innovation Branch
Abstract:
Vegetation along roadways can be aesthetically pleasing and helps to stabilize the soil, which reduces wind-blown soil

and soil erosion. While products containing chloride salts have proven to be very effective in helping to provide safe road

surfaces, the accumulation of these products in roadside soils may create conditions unsuitable for the growth of some

plant species. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a magnesium chloride–based deicer, a sodium

chloride-based deicer, and the major salts contained in these deicers on seed germination and seedling growth and

development of fifteen species of grasses and forbs native to Colorado. Seven of the fifteen species performed well at the

low and medium concentrations of the salts and solutions; these are plants that can likely germinate in roadside areas.

An increase in the concentration of chloride or sodium ions, or both, was related to a greater impact on the proportions of

normal and abnormal seeds and seedlings. A few species were more negatively impacted by a particular salt type or

formulation. Eight of the fifteen species tested had too few plant counts at either field site or in different soils and

treatments to conduct individual data analysis on the impact of salt treatments. Salt treatments had no impact on the

average numbers of plants for the remaining seven species, except the two fescue species, which were negatively

impacted by high concentrations of salt treatments in topsoil. In general, all species had more plants and greater growth

on topsoil than sand, and sand was better than gravel. The salt concentrations in the field plantings were diluted by

precipitation during the study so the impacts were probably less than what would be seen with consistently high

concentrations.

Implementation:

Using species with the highest germination rate provides the best opportunity for establishing plants along highways

treated with deicing products. If possible, planting should be done in the fall and the soil should be amended to promote

plant growth. Future studies should quantify conditions of vegetation along highways so that spatial relationships of

highway maintenance, site factors, vegetation types, and metrological factors can be assessed.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
41.71
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:aad6aa43f72b86b75c960a7e407bf2c2155f0adc33f88a703e404fb0f7552c6d
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/18577/dot_18577_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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