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<br />
<br />__ scuare hard. Th_ coherency of the treated surface of the different test
<br />,____ ::as cc-.paratively evaluated by using air and cater jets to simulate wind
<br />~-._ .. :_~Sr crC510.^~. THE reage^.t s, which •,,a rigid in cos: from $0.20 to $3.15 per
<br />____.-, .. __= diluted i:ith ':arcing quantities of water and applied in differing
<br />qusn__ic-s to approximate reagent costs of 1, 2, and 4 cents per square yard.
<br />,_ = __.-.~_ _~ scuare yarc, tha reagent test would be $153.60 per acre and
<br />therefore nEar the upper limit, if total costs including application are to be
<br />held =_ ;2~~ per acre.
<br />:;11 of the chemicals tested--cationic neoprene emulsion, Coherex, Com-
<br />pound SP-G00, DCA-i0, Rezosol, and Soil Gard--produced wind- and water-
<br />rrsis-_act surfaces on sandy, slimy, and combined tailings plots when applied
<br />ir. ;uantities costing 4 cents per square yard. As the amount applied was
<br />decreased to the 1-cent-per-square-yard basis, only Coherex remained as a
<br />viabie reagent on the different types of plots.
<br />Combined Chemical-Vegetative Stabilization
<br />The use of prope*_ che~:.icals in conjunction with vegetative growth can
<br />have several advantages. ThE chemical can be of benefit by (1) preventing
<br />sandblasting of the plants, (2) retaining moisture in the tailings by decreas-
<br />ing evaporation, (3) aiding in gemination, when dark in color, by absorbing
<br />heat, (!) adding organics, (S) reducing reflection of the sun's rays back on'_o
<br />the rlants, and (6) providing better structure. Of the six elastomeric poly-
<br />mers tested, only three t:•ere selected for intensive testing with the combina-
<br />tioR chemical-vegetative mecfiod. These three--Coherex, Compaund SP-400, and
<br />Seil Gard--were selected primarily on a basis of cost.
<br />Zr.door and outdoor test plots, stabilized with the three chemicals at
<br />costs of 1 and 2 cents per scuare yard, were compared with control plats
<br />planted and treated in the same way except that no chemicals were used. Each
<br />plot was planted with aIfaifa, wheatgrasses, sweet clover, barley, rabbit
<br />brush, sagebrush, and Marglobe tomatoes. Coherex and Soil Gard, under most of
<br />the conditions tested, increased the germination rate of the seeds over the
<br />control plots, a:hereas Compound SP-400 tended to hinder germination. Surviv2l
<br />rates of the germinated plants on the plots treated with Coherex and Soil Gard
<br />were comparable to those of plants on the control plots, demonstrating that,
<br />Cohen considering the better germination obtained by using the chemicals
<br />coupled with_e~cual plant survival, [he chemically treated lots had
<br />advantages,_:Coharex produced better results at a Lower cost than Soil Gard
<br />~.`_ __~
<br />and c;as selec ed for the field testing at McGill
<br />FIELD TESTING
<br />The selected system of a combined vegetation planting stabilized by a
<br />~`a-.'__al additive was ap?lied to a 10-acre plot of Kennecott's i4cGill, i(eV,,
<br />_~__:-_<_ in mid-Seotanber 1551. Seeds appropriate to the area together with
<br />--_ rater:-predetermined ar.~c~.;,nts nd types of fertilizers were planted using a
<br />_____ __,de.. .'he entiLE planted area then was sprayed with Coherex to bond
<br />_:.a =.._fac~. ~~d pra•.er,t ._r.d Erosion. 2 careful account was kept of the
<br />z-..cr.= r_f c.,_rr:icals, labor, and time expended on stabilizing the plot.
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