The Nebraska Department of Transportation needed to quickly revegetate approximately 25 miles of widened highway shoulders in the arid Nebraska Sandhills to prevent soil erosion and sediment runoff. With soils nearly devoid of topsoil, just 1.1% organic matter and a pH of 8.3, Gross Seeding selected hydraulically applied, environmentally friendly ProGanics® Biotic Soil Media (BSM) along with BioPrime®, JumpStart™ and Aqua-pHix®. Applied at 4,000 lb/ac using a single hydroseeder, the solution saved time and resources compared to compost. Within 10 months, hardy native grasses established and stabilized the shoulders, leading Nebraska DOT engineers to continue using ProGanics on future projects.
Key Points
- Nebraska DOT tasked Gross Seeding with restoring 25 miles of denuded highway shoulders in the Nebraska Sandhills, where soils had 1.1% organic matter and pH 8.3.
- ProGanics Biotic Soil Media was hydraulically applied at 4,000 lb/ac with BioPrime, JumpStart and Aqua-pHix to amend depleted soils, accelerate germination and address high pH.
- Application over 25 miles was completed in just a few days with one hydroseeder, using fewer workers and trucks than compost and increasing worker safety on the busy highway.
- Within 10 months, thick native grasses were thriving, effectively stabilizing soil, and Nebraska DOT decided to keep working with ProGanics for future projects.
