SEEDING FOR EROSION CONTROL ON SLOPES

A guide to preventing and controlling erosion furnished by the U.S.D.A, National Resource Conservation Service and the Coarsegold RCD

Bare slopes, resulting from road construction, suburban and industrial developments, stream channel and other types of construction on sloping lands, increase soil erosion and stream sedimentation. Vegetation is needed to reduce these hazards. Natural re-vegetation is extremely slow. Seeding, fertilizing, and mulching are recommended for quick stabilization.

Areas to be seeded should have a firm seedbed which has been previously roughened by disking, harrowing, raking, or otherwise worked, to a depth of approximately two inches. Where wood fiber mulch is to be used together with seed and fertilizer, seedbed preparation can be kept to a minimum.

Fertilizer should be distributed uniformly over the area to be seeded just prior to, or at the time of, seeding. A minimum of 80 pounds per acre of available nitrogen and 80 pounds of available phosphoric acid per acre should be applied. Fertilizer can be broadcast, or applied with a hydrolic applicator. Seed, fertilizer and wood fiber mulch can be applied in one operation with this type of equipment.

Seed should be uniformly distributed over the area. Seed and fertilizer should be covered to a depth of one-half inch by raking or harrowing. Seeding recommendations for elevations below 3000 feet with rainfall above 12 inches are as follows:

SEED

SHORT TERM (2YR)
Wimmera 62 Ryegrass - Rate #/Acre 27	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Broadcast/Mechanical
Annual Ryegrass - Rate #/Acre 27	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Broadcast/Mechanical
Barley - Rate #/Acre 90	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Broadcast/Mechanical
LONG TERM
Blando Brome - Rate #/Acre 18	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1
Lana Vetch - Rate #/Acre 45	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1
Cucamonga Brome Rate #/Acre 36	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1
Lana Vetch - Rate #/Acre 45	Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1
Alta Tall Fescue* - Rate #/Acre 36 Hardinggrass*- Rate #/Acre 18	Prior to Sept. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1 Prior to Sept. 15 - Drill on Slopes flatter than 3:1

*Irrigate for establishment and as necessary for maintenance.

A mulch should be used. This helps to prevent erosion, to anchor seed and fertilizer on steeper slopes, reduces seedling mortality and preserves soil moisture. Two tons per acre of clean straw, anchored by mechanical tucking, or fiber netting.

Irrigation for establishment of both annual and perennial vegetation should always be considered. Whenever irrigation is practical it will greatly enhance the establishment and effectiveness of the vegetative protection.

A well protected slope will prevent erosion and sedimentation and enhance the beauty of the area. Good vegetative stabilization is the result of seeding, fertilizing , and mulching.

For further information or to view a video on this subject, contact a representative of your local National Resource Conservation Service office at (209) 674-2108 or the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District at P. O. Box 1288, North Fork, CA 93643.