Effect of weather conditions, substrate pH, biochar amendment and plant species on two plant growth-promoting microbes on vegetated roofs and facades

Long Xie, Sari Timonen, Alan Gange, Kirsi Kuoppamäki, Marleena Hagner, Susanna Lehvävirta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Vegetated building envelopes (VBEs), such as vegetated roofs and facades, are becoming more frequent in urban planning nowadays. However, harsh growing conditions on rooftops restrain the application of VBEs. Plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) might help ease the stresses, but first, it is necessary to investigate how to ensure their survival and growth under VBE conditions.
Methods: We conducted three experiments to test the impact of various factors on the microbial populations of inoculated PGPMs in VBEs, a mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and a bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The first experiment was conducted by inoculating the two PGPMs separately in Sedum roof plots, and the microbial population associated with Poa alpina was monitored for two consecutive years under local weather conditions. The second experiment was conducted in a laboratory testing the effect of substrate pH (substrates collected from balcony gardens) on the PGPM population associated with Trifolium repens and Viola tricolor. The third experiment was conducted on a meadow roof testing the effect of biochar amendment on the PGPM population associated with Thymus serpyllum and Fragaria vesca.
Results: In the first experiment, Bacillus was found to associate with P. alpina, but Rhizophagus wasn’t. Yet, the fungus induced high Bacillus population density in the R. irregularis treated plots in the first year. In the second experiment, Rhizophagus abundance in T. repens was higher in the acidic substrate, while V. tricolor showed an opposite response, suggesting an important interactive effect of substrate pH and plant species on Rhizophagus abundance. The third experiment suggested a negligible impact of biochar amendment on Rhizophagus abundance for both host plants.
Conclusion: Three experiments demonstrate that PGPM inoculation on VBEs is feasible, and various factors and interactions affect the PGPM populations. This paper provides reference and inspiration for other VBE research involving substrate microbial manipulation.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere09560
JournalHeliyon
Volume8
Issue number6
Early online date31 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
  • environmental factors
  • microbial population
  • Rhizophagus irregularis
  • vegetated roofs/facades

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