(Excerpt from Texas Transportation Researcher, October 1967)
Best cultural methods to give an ideal stand of grass for erosion control along the highway have been determined by Dr. Wayne McCully and Mr. William J. Bowmer in research of the Texas Transportation Institute sponsored by the Texas Highway Department with the Bureau of Public Roads. Establishing a vegetative cover on roadsides for erosion control requires a balancing of plant growth requirements with engineering specifications. The plant requirements are: (1) planting materials adapted to existing soil conditions in a particular area and (2) an environment favorable for seed germination and for seedling growth.
Plant materials for an area as large as Texas may vary considerably across the state. Generally, Bermuda grass is seeded in the eastern one-third of Texas, and perennial native bunchgrasses are used in the drier western areas. Seeding usually is not recommended in the portion of Texas receiving less than 12 inches of rainfall annually. Specific grass varieties may be designated for specific areas, and these should be used where the premium on seed cost is not great. The researchers suggest a number of field practices which are important in establishing a protective vegetative cover.