SECTION 715 - ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT MATERIALS
715.01 Topsoil.
715.01.1 General. Topsoil shall be a well-graded soil of good uniform workable quality,
free of debris, refuse, or foreign material and reasonably free of hard clods, gravel, concrete, sticks, or other undesirable material harmful to plant life.
715.01.2 Material to be Obtained from the Right-of-Way. Topsoil for slope treatment
shall meet the general requirements as stated above and shall have a pH value of not less than 4.5 nor more than 8.0.
715.01.3 Material to be Furnished by the Contractor. Topsoil for slope treatment shall
meet the general requirements of Subsection 715.01.1, shall have a pH value of not less than 4.5 nor more than 8.0, and shall be classified as a Group A-4 or A-6 soil with a minimum PI of 6.0 as specified by AASHTO M 145. Topsoil for plant holes or pits shall be a rich, well-graded, well-drained soil of good uniform quality. The organic content, unless otherwise specified, shall not be less than three percent nor more than 20% as determined by ignition test on oven-dried samples. The pH value of the topsoil shall not be less than 4.5 nor more than 8.0. The Contractor may elect to mix or blend the materials for plant holes or pits so as to ensure a homogenous mixture complying with the specific requirem ents of these specifications. No extra compensation will be allowed for the blending or mixing of materials.
715.01.4 Sampling and Testing. Sampling and testing of topsoil shall be as set out in
Subsection 700.03.
715.02 Fertilizers.
715.02.1 General. Fertilizers shall comply with th e fertilizer laws of the State of
Mississippi.
715.02.2 Commercial, Combinatio n or Manufactured, Fertilizer. Combination or
manufactured fertilizer shall be "standard commercial products" and shall contain not less than the percentages by weight of the ingredients set out in Table A, except for agricultural limestone, which shall meet the requirements of Subsection 715.02.2.1.
715.02.2 1--Agricultural Limestone. Agricultural limestone shall be either a hard-rock
limestone material or a marl or chalk agricultural liming material as addressed in the latest amendment to the Mississippi Agricultural Liming Material Act of 1993, published by the MDAC
715.02.2 1.1--Screening Requirements. Marl or chalk lining material shall not have less
than 90% of the material passing the No. 10 sieve.
715.02.2 1.2--Calcium Carbonate Equivalent. Marl or chalk liming material shall not
have less than 70% calcium and magnesium carbonate calculated as calcium carbonate equivalent when expressed on a dry weight basis.
715.02.2 1.3--Neutralizing Values. Hard-rock limestone material shall have a minimum
Relative Neutralizing Value (RNV) of 63.0%, which is determined as follows. % RNV = CCE x (% passing #10 mesh + % passing #50 mesh)/2 Where: CCE = Calcium Carbonate Equivalent
715.02.3 Sampling and Testing. Sampling and testing of agricultural limestone shall be
in accordance with Subsection 700.03. Labels on containers or attached thereto showing the guaranteed analysis of other fertilizers w ill be prima facie evidence as to conformity with the specified requirements.
715.03 Seed.
715.03.1 General. All seeds shall comply with the seed law of the State of Mississippi
and the current regulations duly promulgated th ereunder. The seed shall be delivered in bags with certified tags or labels attached to each bag showing the seed name, kind, variety, percent of germination and purity of the seed, and the percent of obnoxious weeds and inert matter.
715.03.2 Germination and Purity Requirements . The requirements for germination
and purity shall be as set out in Table B: TABLE B Germination and Purity Requirements Name (Kind) Name (Variety) Percent Germination Percent Purity GRASSES Bermudagrass Bahiagrass Tall Fescue Lovegrass Carpetgrass Millet Oats Rye Grain Centipede Rye Grass Wheat Common Pensacola or Wilmington Kentucky 31 Weeping ---------- Browntop ---------- ---------- ---------- Annual ---------- LEGUMES Crimson Clover Annual Lespedeza Sericea Lespedeza Lespedeza Vetch Dixie, Chief, Tibbee, or Autauga Kobe, Summit, or Climax Common, Interstate or Serala Vergata Hairy
715.03.3 Sampling and Testing. Except as provided in Subsection 214.02, the certified
analysis shown on the seed bags will be used to determine the purity, obnoxious seeds, and inert matter as to conformance with the above requirements. Seeds from bags not identified by certified analysis or from bags with certified analysis indicating the seeds do not meet contract requirements shall not be used. All seeds will be sampled and tested for percent germination, and the Department reserves the right to sample and test seeds for any required characteristic when deemed appropriate to do so as a check on the quality of the seeds, in which case the results of such tests shall be the basis for acceptance, rejection, or adjustment under the provisions of the contract. Seeds to be tested by the Department will be sampled under the supervision of the District Materials Engineer. The seeds sampled by Department personnel will be sampled by means of a probe through the seed bags that are stored in accordance with Subsection 214.02. The procedures for sampling, testing, acceptance, rejection, or adjustment will be in accordance with Subsection 214.02 supplemented by Department SOP.
715.03.4 Leguminous Inoculants . Approved legume seeds shall be treated with
leguminous inoculant under the supervision of the Engineer. The inoculants for treating leguminous seeds shall be standard, pure culture of nitrogen fixing bacteria. The seed shall be treated at the rate specified and according to the directions shown on the container of the inoculants and before the expiration date for use of the inoculant as also shown on the container.
715.04 Water. Water used in planting and establishment of vegetation shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Subsection 714.01.
715.05 Vegetative Materials for Mulch . The vegetative materials for mulch shall be
classed as follows: Type I - Approved baled straw of wheat, oat, rye grain, or rice or broomsage or Bahia grass with seed heads that has reached maturity prior to cutting. Type II - Approved baled hay produced from Bermuda, Bahia, Fescue, Dallis Grass, any of the Lespedezas, or combinations thereof. All of the above materials shall have been properly cured prior to baling and shall be reasonably free from Johnson Grass and other noxious grasses and weeds. Vegetative material shall be reasonably bright in color, dry, and shall not be musty, moldy, or of otherwise low quality. Vegetative material that is wet or that has been baled green, not cured properly, shall not be used. Unless otherwise permitted in writing by the Engineer, Type I shall be furnished and used. The Engineer may permit the use of Type II when the Contractor has furnished satisfactory evidence in writing that Type I material is not available.
715.06 Blank.
715.07 Mulch for Woody Plant Materials . The mulch materials shall conform to the
following.
715.07.1 Tree Bark Mulch . The mulch shall be a standard manufactured product of
ground, shredded, or broken particles from the bark of trees and shall be reasonably free of weed seeds, harmful bacteria, or disease spores and substances toxic to plant growth. The mulch particles shall be of the following type(s), as specified in the contract. Type I - Commonly known as extra coarse. Particle size shall be approximately one inch to 2 1/2". Type II - Commonly known as coarse. Particle size shall be approximately 1/2 inch to one inch. Type III - Commonly known as medium. Particle size shall be approximately 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch. Type IV - Commonly known as fine. Particle size shall be approximately 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch. Type V - Commonly used for the surface mu lching plant holes and plant pits. Mulch shall be shredded cedar, cypress, pine, or hardwood bark strip (pole peelings), commercial type, with no pieces larger than 1½ inches across the surface. Once or twice hammered material is not acceptable for Tree Bark Mulch, Type V. The Contractor shall submit samples of all mulches to the Engineer and receive approval prior to delivery to site. All tree bark mulch shall be handled so as to ensure proper protection against contamination at all times. The mulch shall be delivered to the job in unbroken bags or bales with a manufacturer's label or tag on each container. Labels or tags on the containers shall show the physical analysis of the contents , the size of the partic les, and the volume. Labels on containers or attached thereto showing the guaranteed analysis and volume will be prima facie evidence of the materials meeting the above requirements. All mulch will, however, be subject to approval by the Engineer as to quality and quantity.
715.07.2 Aggregate Mulch. Aggregate used as mulch shall be crushed or uncrushed
gravel Size 5 or Size 56 meeting the gradation requirements of Subsection 703.14 for coarse aggregate cover material.
715.07.3 Straw. Straw material for mulch shall be classed as follows.
Class I - Approved baled wheat, oat, rice or rye straw. The materials shall have been cured properly prior to baling and shall be reasonably free from obnoxious grasses and weeds. The straw material shall be reasonably bright in color, dry and shall not be musty, moldy, or of otherwise low quality. Class II - Approved baled pine needles that is reasonably free of twigs, branches, and obnoxious grasses and weeds. The material shall be dry and shall not be musty, moldy, or of otherwise low quality. All straw mulch shall be inspected and approved by the Engineer prior to its use.
715.08 Fertilizer for Woody Plant Material . The fertilizer material for woody plants
shall conform to the following requirements:
715.08.1 Fertilizer Packet . The fertilizer packet sha ll consist of an approved
manufactured sealed polyethylene-paper laminated perforated packet containing one, two, or four ounces of water soluble fertilizer with a minimum guaranteed analysis of 16-8-16, 16% Nitrogen, 8% Phosphoric Acid, 16% Potash.
715.08.2 Fertilizer Tablet . The fertilizer tablet shall consist of an approved tightly
compressed slow-release tablet 5, 10 or 21 gram size containing a minimum guaranteed analysis of 20-10-5, 20% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphoric Acid, 5% Potash.
715.08.3 Guaranteed Analysis. Labels on containers or attached thereto showing the
guaranteed analysis will be prima facie evidence of the fertilizer materials meeting the specified requirements. All fertilizer packets and tablets will, however, be inspected and approved by the Engineer or, at the Engineer’s discretion, may be sampled and tested.
715.09 Ditch Liner Material. All ditch liner materials shall be new and free of rips or
tears.
715.09.1 Jute Mesh. Jute mesh shall be of uniform, plain weave with warp and weft
yarns of approximately the same size. The physical requirements shall be: Length ........................................ 50 yards per roll, minimum Width .......................................... 48 inches, plus or minus one inch Warp ends ................................... 78 per width, minimum Weft yarns .................................. 41 per yard, minimum The weight of cloth shall average 1.22 pounds per linear yard with a tolerance of plus 10% or minus 5%.
715.09.2 Excelsior Blanket. The excelsior blanket shall consist of a machine-produced
mat of interlocking wood excelsior with uniform thickness and the fiber evenly distributed over the entire area of the blanket. A fabric net of extruded plastic shall be applied to one side of the excelsior wood mat to hold the wood fibers in place. The blankets shall be supplied in a protective covering and shall not be exposed to moisture prior to placing. The blankets shall meet the following physical requirements: Interlocking Wood Fibers . 0.020" x 0.04" (±25%), 50% must be 3½ inches or longer Fabric Net .......................... 1½" x 3½" maximum mesh size Width ................................. 36-inch minimum
715.09.3 Erosion Control Blanket. The erosion control blanket shall consist of a
machine-produced mat whose primary component is clean, weed-free straw from cereal grain crops. The straw must be evenly distributed throughout the mat. The top side of the blanket shall be covered with a photodegradable plastic mesh having 3/4" x 3/4" maximum openings, which shall be substantially adhered to the straw by a knitting process using degradable thread. The blanket shall be supplied in a protective covering and shall meet the following requirements: Straw * 0.50 pounds per square yards, minimum dry weight Netting Photodegradable plastic Width 48-inch minimum * Coconut fiber may be used to replace a portion or all of the straw.
715.09.4 Erosion Control Fabric. The erosion control fabric shall consist of a flexible
knitted construction of high strength degradable yarn with uniform openings interwoven with strips of biodegradable paper and shall conform to the following requirements: Width ................................... 48-inch minimum Weight ................................. 0.2 pounds per square yard, approximate
715.09.5 Wire Staples. The staples for securing the ditch liner material in place shall be
a double prong "U" configuration made from 11-gauge or heavier steel wire with an approximate length of six inches after bending.
715.09.6 Roving.
715.09.6 1--Polypropylene Roving. This material shall be formed from continuous
strands of fibrillated polypropylene yarn, collected into a rove. Fibrillation is defined as a net-like physical structure of the yarn created by splitting the yarn in a precise pattern during manufacture. The polypropylene shall contain a sufficient amount of UV inhibitors so as to retain 70 percent of its strength after 500 hours of exposure in a Weatherometer. The fibrillated polypropylene roving shall have the following detailed requirements: Property Limits Test Method Strands / Rove 20-30 End Count Yards per Pound of Rove 410-620 ASTM D 1907 Package Weight, pounds 18 minimum Scale Color Black
715.09.6 2--Fiberglass Roving. The material shall be formed from continuous fibers
drawn from molten glass, coated with a chromecomplex sizing compound, collected into strands, and lightly bound together into a rove. The fiberglass roving material shall meet the following detailed requirements: Property Limits Test Method Yield, yards per pound 170 - 300 ASTM D 578 Fiber Diameter, inch 0.00035 - 0.00055 ASTM D 578 Strands / Rove 50 - 70 End Count Package Weight, pounds 25-50 Scale
715.09.7 Certification. The Contractor shall furnish the Engineer with three copies of
the manufacturer's certification for each shipment of ditch liner material stating the amount furnished and that the material complies with the requirements of the specifications and also forward three copies of the manufacturer's or distributor's certification showing the wire size for each shipment of staples. The certifications by the manufacturer or distributor will be prima-facie evidence that the materials meet the specified requirements. All ditch liner material and staples will, however, be subject to approval by the Engineer.
Roadside Development Materials in other states
Get an email when 715 changes
Mississippi revises spec sections through supplementals and new editions. We check this one every week and email you the day it changes. Free, no account.