Some Experiments With Turf On Granular Materials

The maintenance of turf on shoulders, berms, and ditches of our highways and on airports has received little attention until very recent years. Frequently a good turf is desirable where the soil has been stabilized or where granular materials are necessary to obtain sufficient supporting power for the anticipated load. Under such conditions attention must be given to the factors which influence plant growth. To obtain a satisfactory environment for the growth of turf, we must have an understanding of the requirements of the species in that turf. The need for sufficient pore space (voids), proper pH, sufficient plant nutrients, and available water supply are factors which need much study before satisfactory recommendations can be made for the estab­ lishment of turf under such conditions. This paper is a brief summary of the research being conducted co-operatively by the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Joint Highway Research Project of the Engineering Experiment Station, Purdue University; the State Highway Commission of Indiana; and the Division of Forage Crops and Diseases, U. S. Department of Agriculture. The work is in a preliminary stage, but a review of the factors under study and our present observations may help those engaged in the construction and maintenance of our highways and airfields.