Articles
Effect of substrate type and depth on the establishment of the edible and medicinal native species Crithmum maritimum on an extensive urban Mediterranean green roof
Article number
1189_89
Pages
451 – 454
Language
English
Abstract
Aiming to evaluate the appropriateness of Crithmum maritimum L. for use on urban extensive green roofs, the effect of substrate type and depth on its establishment and initial growth was investigated.
Ten-weeks old plantlets were planted at the end of December 2015 in plastic containers with a green roof infrastructure fitted (moisture retention and protection of the insulation mat, drainage layer and filter sheet) and placed on a fully exposed second floor flat roof at the Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece.
Two types of substrates were used, grape marc compost:perlite:pumice (3:3:4, v/v) and grape marc compost: perlite:pumice:soil (3:3:2:2, v/v), as well as two substrate depths, 7.5 cm (shallow) and 15 cm (deep). Plantlet irrigation started in April.
Plant growth was evaluated monthly until early May 2016. All plantlets established successfully.
Four months after planting, the deep as well as the soilless substrates resulted in greater plant height and diameter.
Thus, the treatment with deep soilless substrate resulted in the tallest and widest plants bearing the most shoots, while the smallest plants with the least number of shoots were produced in the shallow substrate that contained soil.
So, C. maritimum plantlets successfully established on an extensive urban Mediterranean green roof, better in a soilless substrate 15 cm rather than 7.5 cm deep.
Ten-weeks old plantlets were planted at the end of December 2015 in plastic containers with a green roof infrastructure fitted (moisture retention and protection of the insulation mat, drainage layer and filter sheet) and placed on a fully exposed second floor flat roof at the Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece.
Two types of substrates were used, grape marc compost:perlite:pumice (3:3:4, v/v) and grape marc compost: perlite:pumice:soil (3:3:2:2, v/v), as well as two substrate depths, 7.5 cm (shallow) and 15 cm (deep). Plantlet irrigation started in April.
Plant growth was evaluated monthly until early May 2016. All plantlets established successfully.
Four months after planting, the deep as well as the soilless substrates resulted in greater plant height and diameter.
Thus, the treatment with deep soilless substrate resulted in the tallest and widest plants bearing the most shoots, while the smallest plants with the least number of shoots were produced in the shallow substrate that contained soil.
So, C. maritimum plantlets successfully established on an extensive urban Mediterranean green roof, better in a soilless substrate 15 cm rather than 7.5 cm deep.
Authors
A.N. Martini, M. Papafotiou, K. Evangelopoulos
Keywords
grape marc compost, perlite, pumice, soil, urban horticulture
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