Report number 2 on the results
of re-vegetation by means of hydromulching at Duck Creek Farm
The site
A northerly facing cut face of an angle exceeding 45 degrees
approximately 90 x 2.5 metres. Due to the northerly aspect and the
steep angle of the
slope the site tends to remain dry even during periods of high
precipitation.
Date seeded
1 June 2006
Evaluation of the site on the 8 August 2006
Observations made
During the four weeks following the last inspection the site received
frequent and adequate precipitation interspersed with clear sunny
weather. It rained heavily on the two days preceding the inspection. It
was still raining on the day of the inspection. No night frosts were
recorded during the entire period.
Mechanical support given to most of the bank by the hydromulch has
remained good, the mulch has maintained excellent adhesion to the
surface, in no
areas whatsoever has it washed off, even on the steepest slopes.
On the steepest driest sections
of the slope there has been further mechanical failure where whole
sections of the upper the bank have become dislodged together with
their mulch coating. It has become quite clear that exceeding the angle
of repose on these sections is responsible for the collapse of the
upper portions of the bank. This
can be clearly seen in the accompanying photographs.
On inspection of the site it was found that good growth has occurred
on the lower two thirds of most of the slope. On the upper third of the
slope the germination has been much slower and growth has not been
nearly
as vigorous us on the lower two thirds.
The more Northwest facing sections of the site have continued to shown
slightly inferior results, this is no doubt due to the fact that they
receive more sun and dry out more quickly. Although it had rained
heavily for two days prior to the inspection much of this section of
the slope remained
fairly dry.
Some germination of the legumes has already occurred, however at this
stage it is not possible to determine which species. No germination of
the other seed has occurred to date. Germination of Agrostis capillaris
(bent grass) has been far superior to that of all the other species
planted so far, especially on the drier upper sections of the slope.
Although the upper sections of much of the slope appear to be bare in
the photographs a considerable amount of Agrostis capillaris has
germinated, the plants are however much smaller than those that
germinated much earlier lower down.
Fertilization
300 g of Nitrophoska 12% N, 10% P, 10%K, 4.6 % Ca, 1.2 % Mg fertilizer
was distributed on the slope immediately above the mulched area in a
strip approximately .5m wide.
In conclusion
The results so far are more than satisfactory. The fertilizer and
potassium humate which has been applied has had a very noticeable
effect on plant
growth, this has resulted in the much improved vigour of the existing
plants
of Plantago lanceolata growing on the slope as well as having resulted
in
the germination of a large number of seeds of Taraxacum officionale
(dandelion) and to a lesser extent Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)
at the base of
the slope, seed that had no doubt been lying dormant in the soil.
Michael Hickman
15.08.06
Report number 1 on the results of re-vegetation by means
of hydromulching at Duck Creek Farm