Investigation of interaction of irrigation levels and vermicompost on morphophysiological indices of several ground cover plants

Water scarcity is one of the most important limiting factors the expantion of green spaces in arid and semiarid regions. Various best management practices (BMPs) have been developed and implemented in an effort to reduce environmental pollution and water consumption associated with urban landscapes. Use of organic fertilizers including vermicompost can play an effective and important role in plant growth and development and also in reducing harmful effects of various environmental stresses on plants. Accordingly, the effect and efficiency of vermicompost fertilizer was evaluated for the establishment and morphophysiological parameters of P. nodiflora L., Frankenia thymifolia Desf. Oxalis stricta and natural common bermudagrass under water stress. A field experiment designed as split plot factorial design based on Randomized Completely Block with three replications. Results indicated that adding vermicompost increased visual quality and growth parameters such as shoot and root length, shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights. Electrolyte leakage (EL) content was increased in leaves of plants at 50% full irrigation; however, vermicompost treatment significantly reduced EL in most of plant especially natural common bermudagrass. Relative water content (RWC) in all plants were raised with vermicompost addition at full irrigation (100%) treatment after 2 days. It can be concluded that vermicompost alleviated the adverse effects of water stress in all plants. In addition, natural common bermudagrass and P. nodiflora L. were the most drought tolerant plants and they are well adapted to adverse environments. It was also recommended use of these ground cover plants instead high-water requirement plants in urban landscapes.

کلیدواژه ها:

water stress ، organic fertilizer ، Phyla nodiflora L. ، natural common bermudagrass