Do wildflowers help reduce runoff in roadside soils?

June 1, 2021 – Turfgrass is typically planted in the soils along roadsides after construction. It provides an effective way to minimize the runoff leaving roads when it rains. But is there an even better option to reduce runoff? The June 1^st Soils Matter blog explores the benefits wildflowers bring to roadside soils.

According to blogger Erin Rivers, “Runoff from roads typically contains harmful pollutants and contaminants. Streams, rivers, and lakes can be harmed by these contaminants if the runoff is not infiltrated by soils on the roadside first. In regions that receive a lot of precipitation year-round, this can be a big problem.”

Rivers and her team wanted to see how effectively wildflowers soak up runoff in tilled soils compared to turfgrass. They found both turfgrass and wildflowers absorbed the same amount of runoff, but wildflowers come with other benefits. Besides their aesthetic properties, wildflowers increase pollinator habitat and reduce the need for mowing which causes soil compaction.

Learn more by reading the entire blog: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/do-wildflowers-help-reduce-runoff-in-roadside-soils/

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The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1936, SSSA is the professional home for 6,000+ members and 1,000+ certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of soil science. The Society provides information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling, and wise land use.