Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation
Naturalization is a new and promising ecological approach to green space development for urban environments, although knowledge is sparse on techniques to implement it. We evaluated naturalization of eight native trees and shrubs, with site preparation (tillage, herbicide) and soil amendment (compos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/8/854 |
| _version_ | 1797523210227417088 |
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| author | Jaime Aguilar Rojas Amalesh Dhar M. Anne Naeth |
| author_facet | Jaime Aguilar Rojas Amalesh Dhar M. Anne Naeth |
| author_sort | Jaime Aguilar Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Naturalization is a new and promising ecological approach to green space development for urban environments, although knowledge is sparse on techniques to implement it. We evaluated naturalization of eight native trees and shrubs, with site preparation (tillage, herbicide) and soil amendment (compost rates) treatment combinations at six sites in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Soil texture improved with all compost rates, and acidity, electrical conductivity and total carbon increased, especially with 100% compost. Soil nutrients generally increased with compost then declined within a year. Plant species with highest potential for use in urban green spaces were <i>Picea glauca</i>, <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i> and <i>Rosa acicularis</i>. Herbicide was the most influential site preparation treatment, positively increasing survival and growth of planted woody species, while negatively lowering non-native species cover and increasing noxious weed cover. Soil amendment with compost influenced cover not species richness, with high compost amendment reducing vegetation cover across sites, and increasing individual plant size. This study suggests amendment of soil with compost and appropriate site preparation can positively influence naturalization of these woody species for urban green spaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:40:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90c312ff39d64b11961a2b9f158ddbbb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:40:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-90c312ff39d64b11961a2b9f158ddbbb2023-11-22T08:21:29ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2021-08-0110885410.3390/land10080854Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native VegetationJaime Aguilar Rojas0Amalesh Dhar1M. Anne Naeth2Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, CanadaNaturalization is a new and promising ecological approach to green space development for urban environments, although knowledge is sparse on techniques to implement it. We evaluated naturalization of eight native trees and shrubs, with site preparation (tillage, herbicide) and soil amendment (compost rates) treatment combinations at six sites in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Soil texture improved with all compost rates, and acidity, electrical conductivity and total carbon increased, especially with 100% compost. Soil nutrients generally increased with compost then declined within a year. Plant species with highest potential for use in urban green spaces were <i>Picea glauca</i>, <i>Symphoricarpos albus</i> and <i>Rosa acicularis</i>. Herbicide was the most influential site preparation treatment, positively increasing survival and growth of planted woody species, while negatively lowering non-native species cover and increasing noxious weed cover. Soil amendment with compost influenced cover not species richness, with high compost amendment reducing vegetation cover across sites, and increasing individual plant size. This study suggests amendment of soil with compost and appropriate site preparation can positively influence naturalization of these woody species for urban green spaces.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/8/854compostgreen spacesherbicide applicationnative speciesplant communitysite preparation |
| spellingShingle | Jaime Aguilar Rojas Amalesh Dhar M. Anne Naeth Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation Land compost green spaces herbicide application native species plant community site preparation |
| title | Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation |
| title_full | Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation |
| title_fullStr | Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation |
| title_short | Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation |
| title_sort | urban naturalization for green spaces using soil tillage herbicide application compost amendment and native vegetation |
| topic | compost green spaces herbicide application native species plant community site preparation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/8/854 |
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