Abstract
We assessed the status of 34 native species plantings along roadsides in Indiana and Illinois and evaluated soil conditions, distance from road, and surrounding landscape cover to determine which factors led to successful long-term establishment of plantings. Cover by seeded native species and native species overall increased with distance from road and decreased with increasing soil nitrate and phosphorous. Number of native species and seeded native species increased with distance from road and greater seed mix diversity. In contrast, richness of non-native, non-seeded species was greater at shorter distances from road. Across all sites, 84 of the 150 native species seeded at sites were never observed in our surveys, but 28 native species were observed at more than half of the sites in which they were seeded. Our results suggest that native plantings can persist on roadsides for several years after planting, but that specific site-level factors increase the likelihood of long-term success.
Keywords
environmental quality, invasive plants, prairie, roadsides, seeding, soil quality, vascular plants
Report Number
FHWA/IN/JTRP-2025/14
SPR Number
4810
Sponsoring Organization
Indiana Department of Transportation
Performing Organization
Joint Transportation Research Program
Publisher Place
West Lafayette, Indiana
Date of Version
2025
DOI
10.5703/1288284317878
Recommended Citation
Bollinger, W., Bhattarai, R., & Matthews, J. W. (2025). Feasibility of utilizing native grasses and forbs in lieu of exotic cool season grasses on roadside rights-of-way (Joint Transportation Research Program Publication No. FHWA/IN/JTRP-2025/14). West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University. https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317878