1004.01 FERTILIZER. Fertilizer shall be a commercial type complying
with the commercial fertilizer laws in effect as regulated by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The chemical composition shall be as specified and shall be designated by a 3-number sequence representing minimum percentages by weight, respectively, of nitrogen (N), available phosphoric acid (P2O5) and soluble potash (K2O). Fertilizer supplied in granular, pellet, or tablet form shall be packaged in moisture proof containers. Fertilizer tablets shall be an approved brand containing nitrogen fixing and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria, slow-release nitrogen, natural organic nutrients, and humic acid. For backfill mix, fertilizer tablets sh all be controlled release tablets, 21 gram, 20 -10-5 (N-P-K) with calcium, sulfur and iron.
1004.02 AGRICULTURAL LIME. Agricultural lime shall consist of
ground limestone or seashells containing at least 90 percent calcium carbonate equivalent (CaCO3) when tested in accordance with ASTM C602. The material shall be ground so that a minimum of 90 percent passes a No. 10 sieve and 25 percent passes a No. 100 sieve.
1004.03 SEED. Seed shall comply with requirements of Louisiana law.
The minimum percentage of pure live seed and the maximum percentage of weed seed permitted shall be in accordance with Table 1004-1. Table 1004-1 Seed Requirements Variety Minimum Percent of Pure Live Seed (Purity Times Germination Including Hard Seed by Count) Maximum Percent of Weed Seed, by Count Hulled Bermuda Pensacola Bahia Crimson Clover Kentucky 31 Fescue Unhulled Bermuda Ball Clover Vetch (Common) Annual Rye Browntop Millet Each variety of seed shall be furnished and delivered in separate bags or other containers. Each bag or container shall bear an analysis tag which is a minimum No. 6 standard shipping tag having all information required by the Louisiana Seed Law, arranged as shown in Table 1004-2. Table 1004-2 Seed Analysis Tag Kind & Variety Where Grown Net Wt. Lot No. Pure Seed % Germination % Inert Matter % Hard Seed % Crop Seed % Total Germ. & Hard Seed % Weed Seed % Date of Test Name & No. of Noxious Weed Seed per lb (kg). Name Address Seed furnished shall be the previous season's crop (the last crop year for the crop kind in question) and the date of analysis shown on each tag is within 5 months (excluding the month in which the test is completed) of the time of delivery to the project.
1004.03.1 Noxious Weeds: Noxious weeds shall be interpreted to
mean that list of weeds, except Bermuda, which has been adopted by the Louisiana Seed Commission as being noxious in Louisiana. Noxious weed seeds shall not exceed the limitations prescribed in the regulations and in no case shall they exceed 500 seeds per pound. Analysis tags shall be removed from each bag or container only by the engineer or an authorized representative.
1004.03.2 Test Report: For each lot of seed, submit a copy of the
official service laboratory test report as defined by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to the engineer. The DOTD will accept test reports from the Agricultural Departments of other states provided the requirements of these specifications are met. Ensure that the lot number on the analysis tag matches the laboratory test report lot number.
1004.04 MULCH. Mulch shall consist of either tacked vegetative mulch
or fiber mulch product complying with the following:
1004.04.1 Tacked Vegetative Mulch: Vegetation for tacked
vegetative mulch shall consist of pine straw, stems or stalks of oats, rye, rice,; or other approved straws. Also, hay obtained from various legumes and grasses such as clover, vetches, soybeans, Bermuda, Dallis, carpet sedge, fescue, or other approved legumes or grasses of any combination thereof may be used. Straw or hay shall be reasonably dry and free from mold, Johnson grass or other noxious weeds. The tacking agent for vegetative mulch shall be from the Approved Materials List. For source approval, the minimum allowable vegetative density of tacked vegetative mulch shall be 70 percent for clay soils and 60 percent for sandy soils when evaluated in accordance with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Field Performance Testing Procedure of Selected Erosion Control Products.
1004.04.2 Fiber Mulch Products: Use fiber mulch products from
the Approved Materials List that consist of organic fiber mulches. Fiber mulch products may consist of the fiber only, or a prepackaged blend of fiber mulch and tackifier. For fiber mulch products packaged without tackifier, use a tackifier from the Approved Materials List. For source approval, the minimum allowable vegetative density of fiber mulch products shall be 70 percent for clay soils and 60 percent for sandy soils when evaluated in accordance with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Field Performance Testing Procedure of Selected Erosion Control Products.
1004.05 WATER MANAGEMENT GEL. Water management gel shall
consist of an acrylamide copolymer gel with the ability to retain and release available water to the root zone. Mix the manufacturer's recommended amount of water management gel with the required amount of backfill soil per plant before backfilling.
1004.06 MYCORRHIZAL INOCULANT. Mycorrhizal inoculant shall
consist of live spores and/or root fragments or mycelium of Vesicular- Arbuscular (VA) Endomycorrhizal fungi and Ectomycorrhizal fungus and beneficial bacteria which have been chosen based on their ability to survive and influence plants over a broad pH range. Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Laurels require ericoid Mycorrhizae. Each Endomycorrhizal Inoculant shall carry a supplier's guarantee of numbers of propagules per unit weight or volume of bulk material. If more than one fungal species is claimed by the supplier, the label shall include a guarantee for each species of Mycorrhizal fungus claimed. The Project Engineer will verify that the expiration date or shelf life of each container has not expired before approving its use.
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