Mycorrhizal/Plant Factors Involved in Roadside Reclamation

Project summary:

In an effort to improve soil fertility, plant germination and establishment, MnDOT adds soil amendments along many roadsides. For example, during spring 1996, biosolids were added to part of the Shakopee wetland site spring 1995, mycorrhizal fungi were introduced into experimental plots near the JES prairie/wetland complex near Cambridge. Our preliminary evidence suggests these additions benefit plant growth and development. This project would monitor the addition of soil amendments at four MnDOT sites for a long enough period for effective recommendations to be made about the treatments. The biosolid and mycorrhizal additions as well as the treatments to be done along the Highway 280 corridor need to be monitored for soil, mycorrhizal and plant parameters to determine the optimal approaches to use for roadside prairie and wetland restoration. A lot of information concerning future restoration projects can be gained by monitoring the plant establishment process at sites where amendments have been added. Our research proposes to address the value of different amendments and make recommendations to MnDOT according to the results of the studies.