EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED GREEN WALL SYSTEMS LOCATED IN THE LOWLANDS OF THE LOWER SILESIA

• Main Authors: Daniel Skarżyński, Anna Pływaczyk, Grzegorz Pęczkowski
• Format: Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2014-10-01
• Series: Inżynieria Ekologiczna
• Subjects: modular green wall; lowlands; Lower Silesia; water relations; irrigation; plant growth
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/ie/Ocena-funkcjonowania-wybranych-systemow-zielonych-scian-zlokalizowanych-na-obszarach-nizinnych-dolnego-slaska,253,0,2.html

The study was performed in Wroclaw in growing seasons of year 2011 and 2012 on two models of modular green walls of various construction. Experimental models of green walls was made in the form of wooden houses with dimensions of 1,5×1,5×2,5 m and plant panels. Each elevation had 9 panels (33×33 cm) and the surface of a single wall was 1 m2. For the greening the walls was used 60 plant species representing shrubs, perennials and grasses (Ajuga reptans, Carex ornithopoda ‘Variegata ‘, Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald’n Gold’, Festuca ovina ‘Glauca’, Sedum spurium, Spirea japonica ‘Japaness Dwarf’ and others). The study compares retention model (I) of green wall made with soil substrate having a thickness of 15 cm with an economic model (II), wherein the plant panels consisted of a layer of mineral wool and felt with thickness of 5 cm. Studies have shown that the economic model (II) did not work in the climatic conditions prevailing in the lowlands of Lower Silesia. It had an insufficient absorption capacity. Water outflow at the dose used for drip irrigation of 4,6 mm per 1 m2 came monthly to 50–77%, the covering wall of vegetation was approximately 60%, and the survival rate after the winter period reached only 5%. Retention model (I) was characterized by a much better absorbent properties. There was no water outflows , which indicates that the entire dose of irrigation was stored in the soil substrate. Plant development was normal, survival rate and their coverage in the analyzed period occurred up to 90%. On retention model (I) the best developed species was Sedum sp., Heuchera sp., Potentilla sp., Festuca sp. and Pachysandra sp.. On economic model (II) throughout the whole experimental period remained only plant of the genus Sedum sp., which indicating that these species can be used in systems of modular green wall under the climatic conditions prevailing in the lowland of Lower Silesia.