The Growth and Qualitative Traits of Eighteen Ornamental Cover Plants in the Climatic Conditions of Gorgan, Iran
Subject Areas : Journal of Ornamental PlantsHosein Zarei 1 , Mehrdad Babarabie 2
1 - Department of Green Space Science and Engineering, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
2 - Department of Agriculture, Minab Higher Education Complex, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Keywords: Climate, Ground cover, Green spaces, Landscape,
Abstract :
Given the deficiency of water resources in many Iranian cities and the substantial water usage by lawns, exploring the feasibility of reducing lawn areas and expanding green areas with planting cover plants is a rational approach to achieving sustainable green space. Cover plants offer a more varied and natural visual appeal than grasses. An essential consideration in green space design is selecting plants that respond well to seasonal changes in different climates. The present study aimed to evaluate 18 cover plants in the climatic conditions of Gorgan, Iran, over the course of a year (four seasons). The traits measured included appearance quality, chlorophyll a, b, and total, carotenoid content, and plant growth percentage. The comparison of data means indicated that the highest and lowest growth rates throughout the four seasons were observed in Carpobrotus acinaciformis and Festuca ovina, respectively. Carpobrotus acinaciformis exhibited the highest levels of chlorophyll a, b, and total. Alternanthera bettzickiana showed the highest carotenoid content in its leaves, closely followed by Frankenia thymifolia. The best visual quality was for Osteospermum ecklonis in spring, followed by Frankenia thymifolia, Plectranthus australis, and Lysimachia nummularia. The research revealed that, out of the 18 cover crops examined, the most suitable species for the urban green spaces of Gorgan under full sunlight and with no shading are Frankenia thymifolia, Osteospermum ecklonis, Liriope muscari, Sedum reflexum, Ruellia tweediana, Carpobrotus acinaciformis, and Armeria maritima. Additionally, plants like Cerastium tomentosum, Phalaris arundinacea, and Lysimachia nummularia, which exhibited yellowing and diminished growth and appearance quality due to the intense summer light in the summer, are likely to thrive in Gorgan’s urban green spaces if they are cultivated in shaded areas.
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