Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions
The effects of climate change in coastal semi-arid and arid Mediterranean areas are intense. Green roofs planted with native plant species that are able to withstand saline conditions can contribute to supporting climate-change adaptation and species preservation in wetlands, enhancing the character...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1198 |
| _version_ | 1797601476716003328 |
|---|---|
| author | Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou Nikolaos Ntoulas Dionysia Bourtsoukli Konstantinos Bertsouklis |
| author_facet | Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou Nikolaos Ntoulas Dionysia Bourtsoukli Konstantinos Bertsouklis |
| author_sort | Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The effects of climate change in coastal semi-arid and arid Mediterranean areas are intense. Green roofs planted with native plant species that are able to withstand saline conditions can contribute to supporting climate-change adaptation and species preservation in wetlands, enhancing the character of local landscapes and reducing disaster risk. Considering the limited availability of water resources, there is increasing interest in the use of seawater for irrigation, particularly near coastal areas. The growth of a native Mediterranean halophyte, <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i>, on a simulated extensive green roof system with six different irrigation treatments with or without seawater for 97 days is presented. The irrigation treatments included tap water every 4 or 8 days, seawater every 4 or 8 days, and seawater alternated with tap water every 4 or 8 days. The plants’ growth indices, heights, ground-cover surface areas, and relative shoot water content, as well as the electrical conductivity of the green roof’s substrate leachates (EC<sub>L</sub>), were measured at regular intervals. Overall, the plants irrigated with tap water every 4 days and the plants irrigated with seawater alternated with tap water every 4 days showed the greatest growth amongst the different irrigation treatments, while the plants irrigated with seawater or seawater alternated with tap water every 8 days showed the least growth. Furthermore, the plants irrigated with tap water every 8 days or seawater every 4 days showed intermediate growth. To conserve water, irrigation with seawater alternated with tap water every 4 days is proposed. To further conserve water, irrigation every 4 days with seawater only is also proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:01:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33d0b730218e42a8840a27f371c0f70d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:01:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-33d0b730218e42a8840a27f371c0f70d2023-11-18T00:04:31ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-04-01135119810.3390/agronomy13051198Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic ConditionsAngeliki T. Paraskevopoulou0Nikolaos Ntoulas1Dionysia Bourtsoukli2Konstantinos Bertsouklis3Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, School of Plant Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, GreeceThe effects of climate change in coastal semi-arid and arid Mediterranean areas are intense. Green roofs planted with native plant species that are able to withstand saline conditions can contribute to supporting climate-change adaptation and species preservation in wetlands, enhancing the character of local landscapes and reducing disaster risk. Considering the limited availability of water resources, there is increasing interest in the use of seawater for irrigation, particularly near coastal areas. The growth of a native Mediterranean halophyte, <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i>, on a simulated extensive green roof system with six different irrigation treatments with or without seawater for 97 days is presented. The irrigation treatments included tap water every 4 or 8 days, seawater every 4 or 8 days, and seawater alternated with tap water every 4 or 8 days. The plants’ growth indices, heights, ground-cover surface areas, and relative shoot water content, as well as the electrical conductivity of the green roof’s substrate leachates (EC<sub>L</sub>), were measured at regular intervals. Overall, the plants irrigated with tap water every 4 days and the plants irrigated with seawater alternated with tap water every 4 days showed the greatest growth amongst the different irrigation treatments, while the plants irrigated with seawater or seawater alternated with tap water every 8 days showed the least growth. Furthermore, the plants irrigated with tap water every 8 days or seawater every 4 days showed intermediate growth. To conserve water, irrigation with seawater alternated with tap water every 4 days is proposed. To further conserve water, irrigation every 4 days with seawater only is also proposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1198halophytesalt-tolerantplant ground coversalinitygrowth indexurban horticulture |
| spellingShingle | Angeliki T. Paraskevopoulou Nikolaos Ntoulas Dionysia Bourtsoukli Konstantinos Bertsouklis Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions Agronomy halophyte salt-tolerant plant ground cover salinity growth index urban horticulture |
| title | Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions |
| title_full | Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions |
| title_short | Effect of Seawater Irrigation on <i>Arthrocnemum macrostachyum</i> Growing in Extensive Green Roof Systems under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions |
| title_sort | effect of seawater irrigation on i arthrocnemum macrostachyum i growing in extensive green roof systems under semi arid mediterranean climatic conditions |
| topic | halophyte salt-tolerant plant ground cover salinity growth index urban horticulture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1198 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelikitparaskevopoulou effectofseawaterirrigationoniarthrocnemummacrostachyumigrowinginextensivegreenroofsystemsundersemiaridmediterraneanclimaticconditions AT nikolaosntoulas effectofseawaterirrigationoniarthrocnemummacrostachyumigrowinginextensivegreenroofsystemsundersemiaridmediterraneanclimaticconditions AT dionysiabourtsoukli effectofseawaterirrigationoniarthrocnemummacrostachyumigrowinginextensivegreenroofsystemsundersemiaridmediterraneanclimaticconditions AT konstantinosbertsouklis effectofseawaterirrigationoniarthrocnemummacrostachyumigrowinginextensivegreenroofsystemsundersemiaridmediterraneanclimaticconditions |