Right-of-Way Mowing Height Research: Final Report

Details

• Creators:
  Borrelli, J. ; Sosebee, R. E. ; McKenney, C. ; Zartman, R.
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Tech University, Lubbock. Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Costs Height Literature Reviews Maintenance Practices Mowing Right Of Way (Land) Vegetation Control
• Publication/ Report Number:
  TX 03/7-4903-2
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Deliverable #2
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  The recommendation that the mowing height should be 7 inches was confirmed by the research in most situations. This height of mowing provides the best opportunity for mid-seral grasses to be established in the rights-of-way. Mowing at 2 inches will remove stem bases and basal crowns in which carbohydrates are stored and reduce tiller recruitment and initiation of new growth. A 2-inch mowing height will eventually remove mid-seral grasses from the vegetative community. A mower speed of 4 mph and a setting of a 6-inch cut on the mower will result in a verdure of 7 inches. To minimize pop-ups or rooster tails, the speed of 4 mph is recommended for grasses other than thick stem grasses especially Johnsongrass. For a thick-stemmed grass or Johnsongrass, a mowing speed of2 mph is recommended. For those areas of the State where snows frequently occur, a recommendation of2 inch mowing height on the immediate shoulder is recommended to reduce the formation of a snow drift onto the driving lanes of the highway. This same recommendation can be made for those areas with drifting sand.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  7-4903
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1d8ef65b62ae31c416050baa2266fb8306d1e6b400415b64d96798b8962148d3a372bb9f442c06850f4a575530d3fdaf5e042771706567a1fd36cb062a24aaf0
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88639/dot_88639_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.91 MB ]