Articles
Impacts of a green roof environment on the yield and growth of three sisters crops
Article number
1467_14
Pages
111 – 118
Language
English
Abstract
Urban areas are expanding throughout the world, increasing infrastructure and impermeable surfaces and concurrently decreasing quantity and quality of natural landscapes.
With a decrease in green spaces, human communities experience an increase in food scarcity.
Ecological communities experience a decrease in biodiversity and suitable habitat.
In this study we examine a) how the presence of native perennial Colorado wildflowers may influence the yield of crop plants, specifically the three sister’s guild of maize, beans and squash, plus sunchokes; and b) how the crop yields may differ between sites in full sun and partial shade landscapes.
To do so, we utilize green roofs and ground plots at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado to evaluate the yield differences.
We hypothesize that shade treatments will reduce yield compared to the full sun treatments.
Thus far with preliminary data analysis, we find crops grown on the green roof had a higher average leaf number compared to at grade.
The yield of the squash crop was the highest on the green roof while the yield of the bean crop was highest at grade.
This shows the full sun exposure may have an effect on squash yield, while partial shade may have an effect on bean yield.
With this research, we hope to provide notable insight to continue working toward the most efficient crop growth in urban environments.
With a decrease in green spaces, human communities experience an increase in food scarcity.
Ecological communities experience a decrease in biodiversity and suitable habitat.
In this study we examine a) how the presence of native perennial Colorado wildflowers may influence the yield of crop plants, specifically the three sister’s guild of maize, beans and squash, plus sunchokes; and b) how the crop yields may differ between sites in full sun and partial shade landscapes.
To do so, we utilize green roofs and ground plots at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado to evaluate the yield differences.
We hypothesize that shade treatments will reduce yield compared to the full sun treatments.
Thus far with preliminary data analysis, we find crops grown on the green roof had a higher average leaf number compared to at grade.
The yield of the squash crop was the highest on the green roof while the yield of the bean crop was highest at grade.
This shows the full sun exposure may have an effect on squash yield, while partial shade may have an effect on bean yield.
With this research, we hope to provide notable insight to continue working toward the most efficient crop growth in urban environments.
Authors
I.B. Rodelius, J.M. Bousselot
Keywords
food deserts, green roof, native wildflowers, three sisters
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