Evaluations of Bio-Barrier® by Soil Type and Depth to Control Herbaceous Vegetation

Project Description

This study evaluates the effect of Bio-Barrier®, an herbicide, on the growth of herbaceous vegetation when installed horizontally under clay, sand, and gravel. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect soil type, temperature, and installation depth have on the effectiveness of the material to control grasses common to highway roadsides. This study sought to quantify those variations in order to identify the installation parameters most likely to yield optimum results in this application. Bio-Barrier® was installed at depths of 50, 100, and 150 mm in sand, gravel (crushed aggregate), and clay. Each plot was seeded with Bermudagrass and Johnsongrass after Bio-Barrier® was installed. Researchers found that as depth and soil density increases, product life also increases. Of the two, however, soil density appears to be the most limiting factor by determining how much herbicide will escape into and travel in the soil column. At a point, the combined effects of an increase in depth and soil density result in significant increases of vegetation growth. The data suggest that Bio-Barrier® placed at a depth of 50 or 100 mm in either sand or gravel will effectively limit vegetation growth. Clay soils of any depths are not recommended. Well-graded crushed aggregate gravel in the 75 to 100 mm depth appears to offer the optimal combination of effective control and life in the ground.

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