Articles
Establishment of five new hybrids of Mediterranean sage species (Salvia spp.) on an urban green roof, as affected by irrigation frequency
Article number
1345_56
Pages
417 – 424
Language
English
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of irrigation frequency on establishment of five new hybrids of sage (Salvia) species native to Greece (S. fruticosa, S. officinalis, S. pomifera ssp. pomifera, S. tomentosa and S. ringens) in an urban Mediterranean extensive green roof, aiming to evaluate their drought tolerance.
Rooted cuttings were planted in April 2021 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 second floor roof.
The substrate used was grape marc compost:perlite:pumice (3:3:4, v/v) and had 10 cm depth.
Two irrigation frequencies were applied, starting from every 3 days (normal) and 5 days (sparse) and followed (after the end of May) by every 2 and 4 days, respectively.
Two months after planting all plants had survived.
The type of hybrid affected all growth parameters, whereas irrigation frequency affected only plant diameter and total axillary shoot length.
Plants irrigated normally had greater diameter and greater total axillary shoot length, compared to those irrigated sparsely.
Hybrids S. officinalis × S. tomentosa and S. pomifera × S. ringens had shorter foliage height (10.5-12.5 cm) than the others (20.6-24.5 cm), but when height of the inflorescences was included, S. pomifera × S. ringens was the tallest of all (90.0 cm). Hybrids S. officinalis × S. pomifera and S. officinalis × S. tomentosa had the greatest diameter (24.5 cm), when irrigated normally, while they produced more axillary shoots (14.4-18.3) of greater total length (126.4-180.8 cm) too.
Only in hybrids S. officinalis × S. tomentosa and S. pomifera × S. ringens, almost all plants flowered producing 5-10 flowering shoots plant‑1, whereas in others, 16.7-75% of plants flowered producing 1.0-2.2 flowering shoots plant‑1.
Rooted cuttings were planted in April 2021 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 second floor roof.
The substrate used was grape marc compost:perlite:pumice (3:3:4, v/v) and had 10 cm depth.
Two irrigation frequencies were applied, starting from every 3 days (normal) and 5 days (sparse) and followed (after the end of May) by every 2 and 4 days, respectively.
Two months after planting all plants had survived.
The type of hybrid affected all growth parameters, whereas irrigation frequency affected only plant diameter and total axillary shoot length.
Plants irrigated normally had greater diameter and greater total axillary shoot length, compared to those irrigated sparsely.
Hybrids S. officinalis × S. tomentosa and S. pomifera × S. ringens had shorter foliage height (10.5-12.5 cm) than the others (20.6-24.5 cm), but when height of the inflorescences was included, S. pomifera × S. ringens was the tallest of all (90.0 cm). Hybrids S. officinalis × S. pomifera and S. officinalis × S. tomentosa had the greatest diameter (24.5 cm), when irrigated normally, while they produced more axillary shoots (14.4-18.3) of greater total length (126.4-180.8 cm) too.
Only in hybrids S. officinalis × S. tomentosa and S. pomifera × S. ringens, almost all plants flowered producing 5-10 flowering shoots plant‑1, whereas in others, 16.7-75% of plants flowered producing 1.0-2.2 flowering shoots plant‑1.
Authors
A.N. Martini, L. Tassoula, M. Papafotiou, A. Kalantzis, E.G. Stylias, E. Dariotis
Keywords
green roof technology, native xerophytic ornamentals, Salvia hybrids, drought stress, soilless substrate, grape marc compost, pumice
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