Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates
Native plant species used for ecological restoration in urban and degraded areas are typically cultivated by ornamental and forestry nurseries. In the face of climate change, it is crucial to produce plants that can withstand transplant stress while promoting the use of sustainable materials, such a...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Silvia Traversari Sara Di Lonardo Simone Orsenigo Daniele Massa Beatrice Nesi Lino Zubani Sonia Cacini |
| author_facet | Silvia Traversari Sara Di Lonardo Simone Orsenigo Daniele Massa Beatrice Nesi Lino Zubani Sonia Cacini |
| author_sort | Silvia Traversari |
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| description | Native plant species used for ecological restoration in urban and degraded areas are typically cultivated by ornamental and forestry nurseries. In the face of climate change, it is crucial to produce plants that can withstand transplant stress while promoting the use of sustainable materials, such as peat-free substrates. Replacing peat with locally sourced organic materials offers a promising strategy to enhance plant resilience to abiotic stress while improving sustainability. This study evaluated the effects of alternative growing media on the growth and post-transplant performance of <i>Viburnum lantana</i> L. under standard nursery conditions. Three substrate mixtures were tested: (i) peat:pumice 70:30 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (PP); (ii) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (CP); (iii) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (CGC). After one year in the nursery, half of the plants were sampled in late spring for biometric, eco-physiological, and nutrient analyses, while the remaining plants were transplanted into a degraded area providing only a single irrigation event during the trial. Approximately 100 days after transplant, biometric and eco-physiological parameters were assessed. Plants grown on CGC demonstrated the highest transplant success, while those grown on PP and CP exhibited greater leaf necrosis, with PP plants also showing significant defoliation. These findings highlight CGC as a viable and sustainable alternative to peat-based substrates, particularly for post-transplant survival in degraded areas prone to drought stress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-56a6b358b26b442bb626eab7ca3d53e5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-56a6b358b26b442bb626eab7ca3d53e52025-08-20T03:47:58ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-05-011410145010.3390/plants14101450Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free SubstratesSilvia Traversari0Sara Di Lonardo1Simone Orsenigo2Daniele Massa3Beatrice Nesi4Lino Zubani5Sonia Cacini6Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, ItalyNational Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Vegetables and Ornamental Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Vegetables and Ornamental Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia, ItalyFlora Conservation s.r.l., Via Francana 500, 27100 Pavia, ItalyCREA Research Centre for Vegetables and Ornamental Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Via dei Fiori 8, 51017 Pescia, ItalyNative plant species used for ecological restoration in urban and degraded areas are typically cultivated by ornamental and forestry nurseries. In the face of climate change, it is crucial to produce plants that can withstand transplant stress while promoting the use of sustainable materials, such as peat-free substrates. Replacing peat with locally sourced organic materials offers a promising strategy to enhance plant resilience to abiotic stress while improving sustainability. This study evaluated the effects of alternative growing media on the growth and post-transplant performance of <i>Viburnum lantana</i> L. under standard nursery conditions. Three substrate mixtures were tested: (i) peat:pumice 70:30 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (PP); (ii) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (CP); (iii) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 <i>v</i>:<i>v</i> (CGC). After one year in the nursery, half of the plants were sampled in late spring for biometric, eco-physiological, and nutrient analyses, while the remaining plants were transplanted into a degraded area providing only a single irrigation event during the trial. Approximately 100 days after transplant, biometric and eco-physiological parameters were assessed. Plants grown on CGC demonstrated the highest transplant success, while those grown on PP and CP exhibited greater leaf necrosis, with PP plants also showing significant defoliation. These findings highlight CGC as a viable and sustainable alternative to peat-based substrates, particularly for post-transplant survival in degraded areas prone to drought stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/10/1450native speciesdroughtsustainable growing mediaecological restoration<i>Viburnum lantana</i> L. |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Traversari Sara Di Lonardo Simone Orsenigo Daniele Massa Beatrice Nesi Lino Zubani Sonia Cacini Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates Plants native species drought sustainable growing media ecological restoration <i>Viburnum lantana</i> L. |
| title | Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates |
| title_full | Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates |
| title_short | Enhancing Transplanting Success in Restoration of Degraded Areas Using Peat-Free Substrates |
| title_sort | enhancing transplanting success in restoration of degraded areas using peat free substrates |
| topic | native species drought sustainable growing media ecological restoration <i>Viburnum lantana</i> L. |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/10/1450 |
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