Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE

The selection of suitable growing media plays a vital role in the successful adaptation of high-altitude plant species to lowland urban landscapes. This study assessed the morphological and physiological performance of two native perennial species, <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>G...

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Main Authors: Türker Oğuztürk, Cengiz Acar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/653
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author Türker Oğuztürk
Cengiz Acar
author_facet Türker Oğuztürk
Cengiz Acar
author_sort Türker Oğuztürk
collection DOAJ
description The selection of suitable growing media plays a vital role in the successful adaptation of high-altitude plant species to lowland urban landscapes. This study assessed the morphological and physiological performance of two native perennial species, <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>, under low-altitude conditions using three different soil–sand (mil) mixtures: TA (50% soil–50% sand), TB (75% soil–25% sand), and TC (100% soil). Over a 17-month period, key plant growth parameters—including height, canopy diameter, leaf number, and chlorophyll concentration—were systematically monitored. Additionally, soil samples were analyzed before and after cultivation to determine pH, total nitrogen, organic matter, organic carbon, phosphorus, and electrical conductivity levels. To evaluate overall performance, the PROMETHEE multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method was applied, incorporating 11 criteria spanning plant development, soil quality, and economic considerations. Results revealed that the TC medium offered the most favorable outcomes for both species, particularly in terms of chlorophyll content and biomass accumulation. Conversely, the TB medium supported higher retention of nitrogen and organic matter. While <i>A. mollis</i> exhibited greater resilience under suboptimal conditions, <i>G. psilostemon</i> demonstrated rapid development under favorable settings. These findings underscore the potential of native perennial species in sustainable landscape design and validate the use of MCDM approaches in optimizing plant–soil interactions in horticultural applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2311-7524
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publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Horticulturae
spelling doaj-art-b18ca02cb1d844e9ae05ccac94e9734e2025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-06-0111665310.3390/horticulturae11060653Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEETürker Oğuztürk0Cengiz Acar1Department of Landscape Architecture, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53020, TürkiyeDepartment of Landscape Architecture, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon 61080, TürkiyeThe selection of suitable growing media plays a vital role in the successful adaptation of high-altitude plant species to lowland urban landscapes. This study assessed the morphological and physiological performance of two native perennial species, <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>, under low-altitude conditions using three different soil–sand (mil) mixtures: TA (50% soil–50% sand), TB (75% soil–25% sand), and TC (100% soil). Over a 17-month period, key plant growth parameters—including height, canopy diameter, leaf number, and chlorophyll concentration—were systematically monitored. Additionally, soil samples were analyzed before and after cultivation to determine pH, total nitrogen, organic matter, organic carbon, phosphorus, and electrical conductivity levels. To evaluate overall performance, the PROMETHEE multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method was applied, incorporating 11 criteria spanning plant development, soil quality, and economic considerations. Results revealed that the TC medium offered the most favorable outcomes for both species, particularly in terms of chlorophyll content and biomass accumulation. Conversely, the TB medium supported higher retention of nitrogen and organic matter. While <i>A. mollis</i> exhibited greater resilience under suboptimal conditions, <i>G. psilostemon</i> demonstrated rapid development under favorable settings. These findings underscore the potential of native perennial species in sustainable landscape design and validate the use of MCDM approaches in optimizing plant–soil interactions in horticultural applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/653chlorophyll<i>Alchemilla mollis</i><i>Geranium psilostemon</i>multi-criteria decision model (MCDM)soil–plant interactions
spellingShingle Türker Oğuztürk
Cengiz Acar
Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
Horticulturae
chlorophyll
<i>Alchemilla mollis</i>
<i>Geranium psilostemon</i>
multi-criteria decision model (MCDM)
soil–plant interactions
title Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
title_full Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
title_fullStr Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
title_short Effects of Soil–Sand Mixtures on <i>Alchemilla mollis</i> and <i>Geranium psilostemon</i>: A Multi-Criteria Performance Analysis Under Low-Altitude Conditions Using PROMETHEE
title_sort effects of soil sand mixtures on i alchemilla mollis i and i geranium psilostemon i a multi criteria performance analysis under low altitude conditions using promethee
topic chlorophyll
<i>Alchemilla mollis</i>
<i>Geranium psilostemon</i>
multi-criteria decision model (MCDM)
soil–plant interactions
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/6/653
work_keys_str_mv AT turkeroguzturk effectsofsoilsandmixturesonialchemillamollisiandigeraniumpsilostemoniamulticriteriaperformanceanalysisunderlowaltitudeconditionsusingpromethee
AT cengizacar effectsofsoilsandmixturesonialchemillamollisiandigeraniumpsilostemoniamulticriteriaperformanceanalysisunderlowaltitudeconditionsusingpromethee