7.30     MULCH

All permanent seeding with prepared seedbeds are required to be mulched.  The mulch shall be "blown" and "tucked in" as soon after seeding as possible.  Machine printed weight tickets are required for all mulch used.  The inspector should receive the weight ticket and obtain a count of the bales at the time the material is delivered to the job site.  The average bale weight can then be calculated.

 

Following the last rolling with the cultipacker, mulch should be applied to the specified areas at the required rate.  A straw mulching machine capable of spreading mulch uniformly is used for applying mulch.  Areas inaccessible to a straw mulching machine should be mulched by hand.

 

Immediately after mulch material has been applied, it should be anchored with a mulch stabilizer operated on the contour.

 

Mulch shall be Certified Noxious Weed Seed Free Mulch as certified by the Iowa Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) or an adjacent state’s Crop Improvement Associations.  To meet the requirements of the ICIA, bales should have a white certification label securely attached to the bale.

 

The specifications require straw to be bailed the same growing season as the grain was harvested from the plant.  Mulch may consist of native grass straw, which is typically harvested beginning in August.  If you encounter native grass straw on your project that is shown as harvested earlier than August of that same calendar year, contact the Office of Roadside or the Earthwork Field Engineer.

 

Refer to http://www.iowacrop.org/Weed_Free.htm for more information on the ICIA Noxious Weed Seed Free Mulch Program.

 

7.31     EXAMPLE CALCULATION

Example of area to be mulched at the rate of 1 1/2 tons/acre:

 

Measured area is 2.6 acres, the average weight per bale is 48 pounds.  Compute as follows: 1 1/2 tons/acre X 2.6 acres = 7,800 lbs. of mulch required for the area.

 

Number of bales required:  7,800 lbs.   = 162 bales

                                                     48 lbs./bale

 

7.32     HYDRO-MULCH

Hydro-mulch (or hydraulic mulch) is typically applied following the application of seed, but it may be used as a stand-alone practice just like straw mulch. 

 

If seeding is performed in conjunction with hydro-mulching, the specifications require hydro-mulch to be applied as a separate operation.

 

There are different types of hydro-mulch, and each has different material properties and typical uses:

§ Wood Cellulose Fiber:

§  Produced from whole wood chips or a combination of whole wood chips and recycled fiber from sawdust, recycled paper, chipboard, or corrugated cardboard

§  Use is typically limited to slopes 6:1 or flatter.

§  Typically requires 24 hours to dry before rainfall occurs in order to be effective against erosion.

§  Expected longevity is up to 3 months.

 

§ Bonded Fiber Matrix (BFM):

§  Produced from long-strand wood fibers held together by organic tackifier and bonding agent

§   May be used on slopes up to and including 2:1.

§  Typically requires 24 hours to dry before rainfall occurs in order to be effective against erosion.

§  Expected longevity is 3 to 12 months.

§  Provides superior erosion protection than straw mulch or wood cellulose hydro-mulch.

 

§  Mechanically Bonded Fiber Matrix (MBFM):

§  Produced from long-strand wood fibers and crimped, interlocking synthetic fibers.

§  May be used on slopes up to and including 2:1.

§  Requires 2-hour cure time, thus provides fast protection against erosion.

§  Expected longevity is 12 months or greater.

§  Provides superior erosion protection than straw mulch or wood cellulose hydro-mulch.

 

The most commonly used type of hydro-mulch used on DOT projects is BFM.

 

All types of hydro-mulch are dyed to facilitate visual metering during application.

 

The minimum rate of application is 3,000 lb./acre. The mixing chart below is based on 3,000 lb./acre:

 

# of 50 lb. Bales

BFM  (lb.)

Water * (gallons)

Application Rate of 3,000 lb./acre

Sq. Ft.

Acre

1

50

67-125

726

0.017

2

100

134-250

1,452

0.033

4

200

268-500

2,904

0.067

8

400

536-1,000

5,808

0.133

16

800

1072-2,000

11,616

0.267

32

1,600

2144-4,000

23,232

0.533

64

3,200

4288-8,000

46,464

1.067

128

6,400

8576-16,000

92,928

2.133

30

1,500

2010-3,750

21,780

0.500

60

3,000

4020-7,500

43,560

1.000

*Range is provided as guidance.  Water amount varies depending on manufacturer and product. 

 

Approved sources and products of hydraulic mulch are listed in the Materials Approved Products Listing Enterprise (MAPLE).