Spatial root distribution of plants growing in vertical media for use in living walls

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 380; no. 1-2; pp. 231 - 248
• Main Authors: Jorgensen, Lars, Dresboll, Dorte Bodin, Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer-Verlag 01.07.2014; Springer; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural research; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Campanula; coir; Ecology; Fragaria vesca; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Geranium; Geranium sanguineum; greenhouses; Growing media; Life Sciences; Physiological aspects; Plant biology; Plant competition; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plant-soil relationships; Planting; Plants; Regular Article; Root distribution; Root growth; Root systems; Roots; Roots (Botany); Sesleria; Soil resources; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil water; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Veronica officinalis; Denmark; Stable isotope; Coir; Rockwool; Root frequency; Root architecture; N uptake; Vertical; Nitrogen 15; Isotope labelling; Root; Nuclear method; Plant fiber; Coconut fiber; Nitrogen isotopes; Absorption; Spatial distribution; Stable isotopes; Vegetative apparatus; Frequency; Mineral wool; Rooting; Soil plant relation; Physical method
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-014-2080-2

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: For plants growing in living walls, the growth potential is correlated to the roots ability to utilize resources in all parts of the growing medium and thereby to the spatial root distribution. The aim of the study was to test how spatial root distribution was affected by growing medium, planting position and competition from other plants. METHODS: Five species (Campanula poscharskyana cv. ‘Stella’, Fragaria vesca cv. ‘Småland’, Geranium sanguineum cv. ‘Max Frei’, Sesleria heufleriana and Veronica officinalis cv. ‘Allgrün’) were grown in three growing media (coir and two of rockwool) in transparent boxes under greenhouse conditions. Root frequency was registered and the activity of individual root systems was studied via ¹⁵N uptake and plant dry weight was measured. RESULTS: Plants in coir had stronger root growth in all parts of the medium than plants in rockwool. Upwards root growth was limited for plants in the middle or lower parts of the medium and ¹⁵N measurements confirmed that only plants in the bottom of the box had active roots in the bottom of the medium. The species differed in root architecture and spatial root distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of growing medium, plant species and planting position is important for a living wall as it affects the spatial root growth of the plants.