Sedum groundcover variably enhances performance and phenolic concentrations of perennial culinary herbs in an urban edible green roof
Selena Ahmed, Sarabeth Buckley, Anne Elise Stratton, Feven Asefaha, C. Butler, Matthew J. Reynolds, Colin M. Orians
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
Urban Farm DB summary
A study on green-roof urban agriculture, which faces the ecological challenge of limited soil moisture, compared two soil moisture management practices — sedum (Sedum album) groundcover versus watering — for their effects on the performance and quality of three perennial culinary herbs: thyme, mint and oregano. Individually and interactively, sedum groundcover and watering significantly affected performance measures (biomass, vitality, module coverage) and quality (total phenolic concentration) during early establishment, but had variable effects at later developmental stages. The results suggest sedum groundcover can substitute for watering of hardy culinary herbs on green roofs in terms of plant performance and quality.