EVALUATION OF PERENNIAL PLANT SUCCESS ON A GREEN ROOF

• Main Author: White, Chris
• Format: Others
• Published: OpenSIUC 2018
• Online Access: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2404; https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3418&context=theses

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF: CHRISTOPHER M. WHITE, for the Master of Science degree in PLANT, SOIL AND AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, presented in 2017 at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. TITLE: EVALUATION OF PERENNIAL PLANT SUCCESS ON A GREEN ROOF MAJOR PROFESSORS: Karen Stoelzle Midden, S. Alan Walters A two-year study (2011-2012) was conducted on a section of an extensive green roof of the Agriculture Building at Southern Illinois University to evaluate the adaptability of four plant species to green roof culture. Extensive green roof survival, growth, and general success of four plant species (Allium schoenoprasum L., Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Grandiflorus’ Vill., Sedum kamtschaticum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. Sp. ellacombianum (Praeger) R.T. Clausen, and Talinum calycinum Engelm.) were compared using two propagating mediums (a peat-based greenhouse medium and a lightweight aggregate medium) integrated with three amendments to enhance plant growth, which provided four medium treatments (lightweight aggregate with vermicompost, lightweight aggregate with mycorrhiza, peat-based greenhouse medium, and SIUC green roof mix). The greenhouse medium resulted in higher plant growth ratings than the lightweight aggregate medium. Dianthus had the most success, with the highest plant height plus width (40.3 cm) and plant rating scores (2.9/5.0). The amendment that showed the most potential was the mycorrhizal treatment, providing higher plant height plus width scores than the control (SIUC green roof mix).