The impact on grass vegetation of materials reducing gravel road dustiness

Abstract

Materials used to reduce dustiness on gravel roads affect both the gravel road surfacing and the neighbouring vegetation. Materials used to reduce dustiness may access vegetation directly (when sprayed on gravel roads) and indirectly (when leached out by precipitation). The investigation examined a new substance, the aqueous solution Safecote (of different concentrations) and its mixtures with calcium chloride. 10%, 20% and 30% concentrations of Safecote and 36.5% of calcium chloride were used. The mixture ratio was 1:1 by volume. The investigation addressed the impact of the applied solutions on the length and viability of the above-ground part of plants. The timothy grass, white clover and crimson clover species of grass vegetation were selected for the investigation. The choice was determined by the fact that these species frequently grow in pastures by gravel roads. As it was determined during the investigation the viability of the selected plants in non-contaminated soil was 85-89%, in soil contaminated with dust reducing agent was 67-88% using solution Safecote, and 0-1% when applying mixtures of solutions. After 6 weeks of growth the length of above-ground part was 6.41-8.57 cm in uncontaminated soil, 4.22-8.18 cm in soil contaminated with Safecote solution and 0.00-2.07 cm in soil contaminated with the mixture.