Dust control

[kcbarnes]

I have been thinking lately about putting down some sort of dust control on my gravel driveway. Our county has an outfit spray all the dirt roads twice in the summer with what I think is some sort of cloride solution. So I would like to know is it a cloride souution and what is the mix ratio/application rate. If any body has any info I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[pajoube]

In Montana we use magnesium cloride mixed with oil. They first wet the road then drop spread the mixture from a tanker. This works very well until it gets very dry and then I go out and wet the road down. We apply this mixture once a summer (spring) and in very dry seasons apply again in September. After 5 years or so, the road is a darker color and very stable. Only one application needed each year after that.
PJ

 

[MJones]

In SW Virginia, the state department uses a calcium chloride solution for dust control on gravel roads. Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[WVBill]

Is this the same Calcium Chloride used in tractor tires for added weight? ...the same that kills everything it touches? Spraying on a gravel road might have two benefits - keeps down the dust and kills the weeds (everything) in the ditches along the side of the road from the runoff (?)

 

[tdenny]

Not to mention killing everything else that it comes in contact with.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

You might want to do some searching for the stuff they used on the Pikes Peak race course. It may turn out to be expensive, but the TV commentators, at least, have raved about how it stabilized the dirt road at the top.

 

[MJones]

Yes, this is the same calcium chloride used in tractor tires. However, the concentration may be different. For the life of me, I can't remember the concentration they use but I will try to find out tomorrow from a friend who lives on a gravel road and purchases this calcium chloride solution from the hiway department. The biggest complaint about using calcium chloride to settle the dust on gravel roads in this area is that it causes automobiles to rust.
Mike

 

[PitbullMidwest]

They spray tree sap on the roads around here. Stinks to high heaven until it dries (and it never dries fast enough for me!) It does a great job of dust control and hardens the road to an almost blacktop state. Another advantage is it is enviromentally safe.

As far as using calcium chloride, if you have a bag of ice melt left over from last winter, many will give the water/calcium mix ratio for dust control on the bag.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

There is a product made from soybean oil that works very well, they used it at Empire Farm Days a few years back.
It seems equally effective as calcium chloride, and doesn't negatively effect plant life, or contaminate ground water.

 

[kcbarnes]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm all set for now because we just got 2" of dust control last night(rain). I was at Ag Expo at MSU on thurs and found the booth for the outfit that sprays our township roads and found out that they will do private drives while in the area or even sell me the product to mix and apply myself