Research note: A rock mulch layer supported little vegetation in an arid reclamation setting

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adding a surface rock layer (also called rock armor or rock mulch) to constructed slopes improves erosion resistance but has had mixed effects on revegetation. This study investigated the effects of rock layer depth (no rocks, 10-, 15-, and 20-cm rock layers) and rock size (5–20 cm diameter rocks) on vegetation cover. Seeding was applied four times in the first 2 years. After 3 years, plots with a rock layer averaged 7% vegetative cover compared to 85% on plots without a rock layer. There was a nonsignificant trend toward less vegetation with a deeper rock layer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)253-256
Number of pages4
JournalArid Land Research and Management
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 3 2018

Keywords

  • Constructed slopes
  • Sonoran desert
  • rock armor
  • rock depth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Soil Science

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