Vegetation conversion to desirable species along Caltrans rights-of-ways.

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Evaluating alternative methods for vegetation control and maintenance along roadsides, study I.
• Creators:
  Young, Steven L. ; Claassen, Victor Paul
• Corporate Creators:
  University of California, Davis. Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  California Fire Ecology Nonindigenous Pests Weeds
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CA07-0103
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  California
• Corporate Publisher:
  California. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  This study evaluates several establishment sequences to determine effective ways to convert existing
  
  annual non-native vegetation to native perennial species. Sustained weed control for several years is
  
  shown to be required for vegetation conversion. No single treatment was sufficient, but each provided
  
  different weed control characteristics. Burning provides control of non-native seeds and plants and
  
  stimulates native perennial plant growth. Tillage prepares the seed bed, stimulates germination of
  
  weed seed and provides soil volumes for root penetration. Ecotypic plant species are thought to be
  
  adapted to different topographic zones away from the road edge. Herbicide use was important to
  
  selectively reduce non-native annual plant species. Chemical treatments to control weeds included 1)
  
  postemergence, non-selective (glyphosate), 2) postemergence, broadleaf selective (clopyralid) and 3)
  
  preemergence, non-selective (chlorsulfuron). After vegetation conversion, herbicide use is shown to
  
  be reduced or eliminated except for occasional weed control. After three years of cultural and
  
  chemical management, we found native perennial grasses most abundant in sites that had been burned
  
  once and sprayed at least twice. In established roadside stands of native perennial grasses, a
  
  combination of spraying, mowing and/or burning for two consecutive years is required to reduce or
  
  eliminate non-native, invasive species, such as yellow starthistle. Once established, native perennial
  
  grass stands can persist for more than a decade and remain relatively weed resistant.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  65A0137
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:cd02724e418ffc114b014d4493a587fc9c85d4e139d62355ca5dda421ac9f4db
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27624/dot_27624_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.53 MB ]