874 Commercial fertilizers shall be supplied separately or in mixtures containing the specified percentages of total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and water soluble potash. Fertilizer shall be furnished in standard containers with weight, name of plant nutrients and guaranteed percentages, clearly marked, all in accordance with governing State and Federal laws. Brands must be regi stered with the West Virginia State Department of Agriculture.
715.26.1 Fertilizer for Seeding: Fertilizer for seeding shall consist of any type with a 1 -
2-1 ratio providing the minimum nutrient equivalent specified. Urea formaldehyde fertilizer shall contain a minimum of 38 percent (38%) slowly available nitrogen. Commercial fertilizer for seeding may be supplied in any of the following forms, subject to the approval of the Engineer.
i.A dry, free flowing fertilizer that may be applied by ordinary agr icultural spreaders. ii. A fertilizer which is water soluble or one which will permit complete suspension of insoluble particles in water, applicable to hydraulic methods of application.
715.26.2 Fertilizer for Landscape Planting: The fertilizer shall be a co -granulated
magnesium ammonium phosphate and magnesium potassium phosphate, controlled release, inorganic fertilizer compound (coarse grade). It shall have a guaranteed minimum analysis of: Percent Nitrogen ................................ ................................ ................................ ....7 Maximum water soluble ammoniacal nitrogen ................................ ......... 2 Minimum water insoluble ammoniacal nitrogen ................................ ......5 Phosphoric acid (available P 2O5) ................................ ............................ 40 Potash(K 2O) ................................ ................................ .............................. 6
715.27 Mulch Material :
715.27.1 Mulch Material for Seeding:
715.27.1 1-Straw Mulch: Straw mulch for seeding shall include baled wheat or oats
straw, or baled grass hay. Alfalfa, clover and salt grass hay are not acceptable. Straw mulch shall be dry and reasonably free from weeds, sticks, or other forei gn material. Acceptance shall be based on the Division's visual inspection of the material.
715.27.1 2-Wood Cellulose Mulch: Mulch for use with the hydraulic application of
grass seed shall consist of wood cellulose fiber. It shall contain no growth o r germination inhibiting factors and shall be dyed green. When the material is agitated in slurry tanks with fertilizers, grass seed, water and other approved additives, the fibers shall become uniformly suspended to form a homogeneous slurry. The hydrau lically sprayed slurry shall form a blotter -like ground cover impregnated with grass seed. The ground cover shall permit the absorption of water and allow rainfall or mechanically applied water to percolate to the underlying soil. 875 The wood cellulose fi ber mulch shall conform to the following requirements: Length of fibers 10 mm. maximum Thickness of Fibers 1 mm. maximum Net Dry Weight Content* Minimum stated on bag pH* 4.0-8.5 Water Holding Capability* 90% Minimum * Test Procedure -MP 715.27.20 The mulch shall be delivered in packages not to exceed 100 lbs.. The package shall bear the name of the manufacturer, the net weight and a supplemental statement of the net dry weight. The material must be approved prior to bei ng used. Acceptance will be based on sampling and testing by the Division for conformance to specifications.
715.27.1 3-Chemical Mulch Binder: A chemical mulch binder shall consist of a
polymer synthetic resin, polypectate, or other material which can readily be removed and will give similar adhesive properties as asphalt when sprayed on straw or other fiber mulches.
715.27.2 Mulch Materials for Landscape Plantings: Acceptable materials for mulching
shall be shredded bark, buckwheat hulls, wood chips or other organic materials approved by the Engineer. Certain inorganic materials such as calcined clay, crushed rock or coarse gravel will be acceptable when designated on the Plans.
715.28 Seed :
The varieties of grass and legume seeds to be furnished to the project shall bear a tag on each bag of each species showing the lot number, the seedman's n ame, the percent of purity, the percent of germination and the weed seed content, in accordance with governing State and Federal laws. All seeds shall be free from noxious weed seeds as set forth in the West Virginia State seed law and in no event shall t he total weed content of any lot of seed or seed mixture exceed one -half percent by weight. The minimum percent purity and germination for the various seeds shall be as shown in Table 715.28. Germination Seed Purity Minimum % Total Minimum (%) Minimum Quick Sprouts (%) Crown Vetch 99 *70 35 Kentucky Bluegrass 85 75 Kentucky 31 Fescue 98 85 Marion Bluegrass 90 75 Perennial Ryegrass 95 85 Red Fescue 98 85 White Dutch Clover 98 *85 55
Source: West Virginia Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2023 Edition. Pages 896–897 of 1,006.