ORIGINAL ARTICLES

 

Effects of different mulch types on soil moisture content in potted shrubs

 

 

S Stelli^{I, II, *}; L Hoy^{I, II}; R Hendrick^II; M Taylor^II

^IEnvironmental Management Services, Rand Water, PO Box 1127, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
^IIApplied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research Unit, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, UNISA, 0003, South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

South Africa is classified as a semi-arid environment with limited natural water resources and variable rainfall. It is also described as water scarce, with many of its water resources already fully exploited. Gardening is one of the principal methods that people use to experience nature, and gardens can also be a public demonstration of personal value, a source of satisfaction, and part of a connection to the community. However, gardens are also one of the top users of water, accounting for approximately 31-50% of potable water supplied for domestic and urban use. In order to reduce the amount of water used in gardens, water conservation strategies such as mulching need to be employed. In view of South Africa's water situation, it is Rand Water's aim to promote the wise use of water, in all aspects of water consumption. It is anticipated that this study will provide information useful to water saving in urban gardens and landscapes, and will promote the use of mulch amongst gardeners, landscapers and the general public. Mulching potted plants with various organic and inorganic mulch was found to conserve an average of 35% more soil water content over approximately 6 weeks of no irrigation than plants with no mulch. Mulch was shown to increase plant health and vitality, as indicated by stomatal conductance, by an average of 44% than plants with no mulch. The recommended mulch type for use in gardens is bark chips in both summer and winter seasons.

Keywords: mulch, soil moisture content, urban gardens, water, water conservation

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INTRODUCTION

South Africa falls within a semi-arid region, and receives an average of 492 mm of annual rainfall (Schulze, 1997). The country is faced with widely ranging precipitation patterns, uneven rainfall distribution and high evaporation rates. The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 4 000 mm in the Upington area, to 2 000-2 500 mm in Gauteng (Tyson, 1986); evaporation exceeds rainfall throughout the country. The International Water Management Institute estimates that South Africa will experience physical water scarcity by 2025, with an annual freshwater availability of less than 1 000 m³ per capita (Otieno and Ochieng, 2004). Careful and efficient use of water is essential, especially in a water-stressed country such as South Africa, where available water per capita is currently between 1 000 and 1 700 m³·yr^-1 (DWA, 2013).

Rand Water is Africa's largest potable bulk water supplier, and was established in 1903 in response to the demand for water in the rapidly expanding city of Johannesburg. The drought of 1995 created a need for water awareness and conservation in Rand Water's area of supply, and Rand Water's environmental brand 'Water Wise' was initiated as a result. Water Wise consists of environmental educators, researchers, trainers, and community liaison partners that work with end-users to inform and educate the general public on South Africa's water situation. Water Wise and Research (WW&R) is a branch of the brand that focuses on awareness amongst the adult market, and water conservation and environmental research (Hoy, 2013).

Gauteng makes up the largest part of Rand Water's area of supply; thus many of the research projects managed by WW&R focus on work within this area. This study was conducted on-site at Rand Water's Environmental Management Services Nursery, situated in the south of Johannesburg. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate type map of Africa (Peel et al., 2007), Johannesburg is classified as Cwb, namely warm temperate, with warm summers and dry winters. Johannesburg falls within the mesic highveld grassland bioregion (Gm), which has a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 726 mm, a mean annual potential evaporation (MAPE) value of 1 958 mm and a mean annual soil moisture stress (MASMS) value of 74% (Mucina et al., 2006). This data indicates that the region experiences approximately 270 days a year where evaporative demand exceeds soil moisture supply. The mesic highveld grassland is the largest bioregion within the grassland biome and has the highest number of vegetation types (Mucina et al., 2006). Most of Rand Water's area of supply falls within this biome. The average rainfall, taken over a 30-year period for the Rand Water supply area, is 654.25 mm.

Although Johannesburg was originally a grassland habitat, there are now an estimated 4.8 million trees planted in private gardens across the city (City of Johannesburg, n.d.). Gardening is one of the principal means by which people experience nature, and gardens are a public demonstration of personal values, a source of satisfaction, and part of a connection to the community (Clayton, 2007). In the domestic sector, water use has increased by 5 to 27% over the past 10 years (DWA, 2013) and water use in gardens accounts for approximately 31-50% of water supplied for domestic and urban use (Water Wise Gardening, n.d.). Water is one of our most valuable natural resources (Wiese, 1999). The implementation of Water Wise practises in the garden, mulching included, can reduce water use by 10-32% (Water Wise Gardening, n.d.).

Many studies focus on the use of mulch in agricultural systems (Allison, 1973; Gaur and Mukeherjee, 1980; Monks et al., 1997; Olasantan, 1999; Tolk et al., 1999; Adekalu et al., 2006; Sarkar and Singh, 2007; Głąb and Kulig, 2008; Ortiz-Ceballos and Fragoso, 2003; Campiglia et al., 2010; Fang et al., 2010; Kumar and Dey, 2011). Mulching is an effective cropping method that is used widely in annual and perennial crops for saving water and increasing soil temperature (Zegada-Lizarazu and Berliner, 2011), as well as improving crop performance and weed control (Campiglia et al., 2010). A literature review established that mulch application in gardening and recreational or landscape horticulture is extensively discussed in gardening forums, and on nursery and garden centre websites. The use of mulch in managed landscapes is increasing rapidly (Herms et al., 2001). There is, however, a gap in knowledge, specifically in peer-reviewed journals, of the application of mulch to gardens and recreational landscapes. This study aims to contribute towards filling this gap by focusing on the use of mulch in potted shrubs as a water-saving gardening practice. In this document, recreational gardens are defined as those owned and maintained by homeowners, while industrial gardens and landscapes are defined as those found in office parks and at business premises.

There are benefits to the use and the application of specific types of mulch that depends on the requirements of the garden, landscape or crop. For example, a study on the comparison of decomposition properties of different types of mulch showed that cypress bark, pine bark and pine needle mulch decayed at a much slower rate than eucalyptus bark mulch. However, pine and cypress bark mulch were shown to cause acidity in soils to increase (Duryea et al., 1999). Compost used as mulch can improve the fertility and nutrient status of soil; however, it does not significantly reduce the effect of water erosion on soil (Arthur et al., 2011). The effect of different types of mulches may be attributed to their inherent characteristics such as their resistance to decomposition, structure and particle size and shape (Omoro and Nair, 1993). Gupta (1991) showed that application of organic mulch to 10 tree species increased tree survival by as much as 37%, as well as increased plant height, total above-ground biomass, and root biomass.

According to the Colorado State University, using mulch reduces evaporation of water from soil, and can reduce irrigation needs by up to 50% (Neibauer and Waskom, 2004). The use of mulch in the garden can thus potentially save the gardener large quantities of water and substantial costs. The application of mulch to soil improves the physical conditions, chemical environment and biological activities of soil. Soil physical properties include water infiltration, retention and percolation capacity, soil aeration and mechanical conditions of soil (Stigter, 1984). The main advantage of mulching is organic and nutrient supply (Głąb and Kulig, 2008). For example, an addition of a layer of 15 cm of leaf mulch can increase organic matter as well as phosphorus, magnesium and cation exchange capacity in the soil (Athy et al., 2006). The organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus content of soils can be increased with the addition of mulch (Gaur and Mukherjee, 1980). Mulching influences the soil moisture regime (Zegada-Lizarazu and Berliner, 2011) by controlling evaporation from the soil surface, improving infiltration and soil-moisture retention, and facilitating condensation of water at night due to temperature reversals (Acharya et al., 2005). Soil moisture content is increased in mulched soil in comparison to un-mulched soils, due to reduced evaporation losses from the soil surface (Gaur and Mukherjee, 1980; Olasantan, 1999). Mulch also enhances water use efficiency (Sarkar and Singh, 2007), while significantly increasing available water capacity and total porosity. Soil is protected by mulch from water erosion by the reduction of the impact of raindrops, while organic residue can also slow surface run-off and increase infiltration (Mulumba and Lal, 2008).

Water use efficiency (WUE) is analogous to an investment strategy for the plant, and is defined as the rate of photosynthesis to transpiration. Thus, optimal stomata aperture size will be defined as the one where WUE is maximized under environmental conditions (Swarthout, 2012). WUE is often used as a functional indicator of plant growth and health under water-deficit conditions (Rahimi et al., 2013). Studies have shown that WUE improves at mild soil water deficits and then declines dramatically as the soil dries (Liu et al., 2005). Usually, under mild drought stress WUE will initially increase as stomatal conductance decreases, in response to a lower reduction in photosynthesis as compared to transpiration. Under severe drought stress, WUE will decrease as stomatal conductance decreases when the reduction in the rate of photosynthesis is larger than the reduction in transpiration (Swarthout, 2012).

The growth, survival and photosynthesis of plants from semi-arid regions is highly affected by water stress as a result of water deficits, which are associated with high temperatures and high light stress (Chaves et al., 2002). In order to conserve water, nutrients and carbohydrates, plants respond to stresses such as soil drying by closing stomatal pores (Wilkinson and Davies, 2002). Studies have shown that the response of stomata is linked more closely to soil moisture content than leaf water status, indicating that stomata may be responding to chemical signals produced by dehydrating roots (Chaves et al., 2002). Zajicek and Heilman (1991) suggest that mulched cultivars will have a higher daytime stomatal conductance than those on bare soil and turf grass surfaces. Montague et al. (2007) have shown how stomatal conductance in newly transplanted shrubs is greater when plants are mulched.

In a survey conducted by Rand Water at various nurseries and garden centres in Gauteng, 36% of the participants (n = 373) stated that they apply mulch as a treatment to their gardens all the time to reduce water loss (Quest, 2011). This indicates that a relatively large percentage of homeowners with gardens use mulch, as well as a fair percentage of Green Industry members. This study investigated the aspect of water-saving potential of mulch on plants.

Research aim

The main aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of various mulch types in conserving soil moisture. The common garden shrub, Polygala myrtifolia, was used for this study. P. myrtifolia was chosen as a study species as it fulfilled the following requirements:

• The plant is readily available from local nurseries and garden centres. This information was obtained by conducting a telephonic survey with various nurseries and garden centres in Gauteng (n = 9).

• It is not a 'spreading' plant, in that its growth form is that of a small, upright perennial shrub, suitable for growth in containers.

• Based on anecdotal evidence gleaned from the Green Industry professionals via telephonic surveys, this plant is categorized as a low- to medium-water-use plant.

• It is an indigenous species that is easy to grow in gardens and landscapes, and is also propagated by the EMS Nursery.

In order to fulfil the aim, the following objectives were defined:

• To compare the effectiveness of selected mulch types on soil moisture conservation

• To determine the effectiveness of selected mulch types on the health of plants

• To observe soil moisture levels in container shrubs over two seasons

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Site

This study was conducted inside Hothouse 2, situated at Rand Water Environmental Management Services (EMS) Nursery (26°21′08′′S; 28°04′02′′E) over June/July/August 2013 and November/December 2013. Climate data during the study periods were recorded with the site's own weather station Campbell Scientific CR10x, which records cumulative rainfall, humidity, wind speed, wind direction and temperature. Mean temperature during the months of June, July and August 2013 (winter trial) was 9.53°C and 20.2°C during the months of November and December 2013 (summer trial).

The hothouse has clear corrugated fibreglass sheeting for the walls and opaque sheeting for the roof. The sheeting allows 50-85% of light transmission and 50-80% heat transmission, depending on the colour of the fibreglass. It is north-facing and 6 m x 10 m in size (60 m²). There is a slight slope to the floor of the hothouse to allow for effective drainage.

Mulch type investigative study

Different types of mulch were selected for use based on a preliminary investigation into the most popular and widely used mulches by gardeners, landscapers, horticulturists, garden centres and nurseries in Gauteng. The aim of this was to use products that are actually used and sold within the Green Industry.

From the 9 responses, a total of 16 suggestions on commonly used or purchased or popular mulch were supplied. Results show that the majority of mulch sold and used is organic (75%), followed by inorganic (25%). Only one mention was made of using living ground covers as mulch and this suggestion was made by a self-employed horticulturist. The most commonly used organic mulch type is bark/wood chips (43%), followed by leaves (14%) and compost (14%), while the only inorganic mulch types mentioned were pebbles or gravel (22%). No mention was made of the use of newspaper or plastic sheeting as mulch, even though this type of mulch is referred to in literature on crop mulches (e.g. Ashworth and Harrison, 1983; Kumar and Dey, 2011; Zegada-Lizarazu and Berliner, 2011).

From the results of the preliminary study it was decided that 75% of the mulch used in the project would be organic (bark chips, compost, and garden waste such as leaves or grass cuttings), while 25% would be inorganic (medium-sized pebbles). Mulch was not dug into the soil (following Wiese, 1999). Mulch was placed at the recommended thickness that promotes water conservation, as per Wiese (1999), as it is assumed that this would be practised by gardeners and landscapers that intend to use mulch effectively.

Pilot study

A pilot study was conducted in order to establish the duration for which P. myrtifolia shrubs can remain alive, i.e., still displaying signs of stomatal conductance, without having water applied under controlled, indoor conditions. Five mature P. myrtifolia shrubs were re-planted into sterilized plastic 36 L pots, using commercial potting soil. The shrubs were placed in the hothouse and watered regularly (hand watering with a hose, 3 times a week as per Rand Water Nursery standards) during the 6-week establishment period. After 6 weeks, watering ceased and plants were left un-watered and un-mulched for the duration of the pilot study.

From Day 1 of the pilot study (first day after cessation of watering) data recording was done every second day at the same time (13:00), for stomatal conductance (SC) and soil water content (SWC), for each plant. Recording of SC was done with a Decagon SC-1 Leaf Porometer, while SWC was measured with The Campbell Scientific HydroSense Soil Water Measurement System (CD620, CS620). Measurements were taken daily until both stomatal conductance and volumetric soil moisture content readings were zero. It was assumed at this stage that the plants were dead (Fig. 1).

 

 

Experimental design

Two separate trials were run to account for ambient temperature variations, one during the winter season (June-August 2013) and one during the summer season (November - December 2013). Each pair of trials was designed and set up as exact replicas. Ninety black plastic pots (36 L) with drainage holes were sterilized using a Jeyes Fluid and water solution of 1:8 (Hoy, 2011). Polygala myrtifolia (September bush) (Fig. 2) plants of approximately 1.5 m in height were planted individually in the pots using Culterra potting soil that had been sent for analysis at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) (Table 1).

 

 

 

 

All potting soil was sourced from the same supplier; thus consistency in soil elements and characteristics was assumed. All plants were sourced from the same supplier to ensure genetic consistency and to prevent the spread of disease. Once plants were potted out, they were placed in the hothouse for an establishment or settling period of 6 weeks, as per industry standard (Hoy, 2013). Plants were watered and fertilized according to Rand Water EMS Nursery standards for the duration of the establishment period.

The experimental design consisted of a randomized complete block design, which was made up of 4 treatments, 1 control, and 18 replicates per treatment and control. One shrub was planted per pot. Ninety (90) physically similar (same height, width, and age) P. myrtifolia shrubs were used in each trial. The potted shrubs were randomly positioned in the hothouse after the 6-week establishment period. On the first day following the 6-week establishment period, each plant was watered once-off by hand according to industry standards for a medium-water-use plant during the winter season, i.e., 7 mm/week, for Trial 1. Trial 1 was run from 27 June 2013 to 08 August 2013 (42 days).

For the second trial, each plant was watered once-off by hand with 25 mm of water, as per the industry standard (Hoy, 2013) (Table 2) for a medium-water-use plant in summer. Trial 2 was run from 05 November 2013 to 12 December 2013 (37 days).

 

 

For both trials, immediately after watering, plants were mulched according to a randomized complete block design. Four types of mulch were used, namely, bark chips, dead leaves, white pebbles, and compost, in addition to the control plants with no mulch. Therefore, each mulch type and the control were randomly assigned to 18 plants. Thereafter, plants were kept in a controlled environment (Hothouse 2) with no irrigation or access to any water or rainfall.

SWC and SC readings were taken for each shrub simultaneously. SWC (%) was taken with The Campbell Scientific HydroSense Soil Water Measurement System (CD620, CS620) by fully inserting the two 20 cm probes into the soil midway between the main stem of the shrub and the outer diameter of the pot. Where possible, readings were taken at the same point in each pot throughout each trial. SC (mmol·m^-2·s^-1) measurements were taken abaxially with Decagon SC-1 Leaf Porometer by placing the sensor head over a suitably-sized leaf and measuring readings for 30 s with the automatic mode facility. Data were recorded from 13:00-15:00 every Monday and Thursday for a period of 6 weeks, for both trials. Readings were taken from 13:00-15:00 every day, due to research that shows plants are relatively stable in terms of water flux and water status for about an hour or two after solar noon (Blum, 2011).

No fertilizer was added to the plants during the research. This was an attempt to reduce the effect of added minerals and nutrients on the health of the plant.

A number of assumptions were made when analysing the data. Firstly, that ambient temperatures in the hothouse will be slightly higher than outdoors. This is due to the greenhouse effect created by the hothouse environment. Hothouses are designed to take full advantage of solar heat to ensure that daytime requirements for heating are met during much of the year (Macdonald, 1986). Also, it was assumed that the potting soil was homogenous across all replicates and that plants were genetically similar, as they were sourced from the same supplier.

The effects of mulch when used in the hothouse will be different to that when used outdoors in landscapes and gardens. For example, plants will not be exposed to frost in the hothouse. Temperatures experienced in the hothouse may be higher than outdoors. The effect of wind will be decreased and the effect of natural precipitation will be removed. No direct sunlight will be received by the soil/mulch in the pots. The results of this study can be cautiously extrapolated to outdoor environments if it is assumed that the soil in a container is exposed to more heat and drying than soil in a garden, and therefore if mulch retains soil moisture in a container it will most likely do so in a garden situation (Hoy, 2013).

Statistical analyses

The difference in SWC and SC between different treatments and the control within each trial was analysed using one-way ANOVAs and post-hoc Tukey Studentized Range tests (α, P = 0.05). The difference in SWC and SC between trials was analysed using unpaired independent Student t-tests. The relationship between SWC content and SC within trials was described by one-way regressions. Data are presented as means ± standard errors (SE) unless otherwise stated. The programmes Microsoft Excel 2010 and IBM SPSS Statistics 21 were used for all statistical analyses.

 

RESULTS

Trial 1 was run over the winter season in Gauteng. Results from one-way ANOVA analysis showed that there was a significant difference between mulch types for SC (P < 0.05; F = 3.14; d.f. = 4.1165), where un-mulched shrubs had a significantly lower mean SC than any of the mulched shrubs (Table 3). Shrubs mulched with bark chips had the highest mean SC, followed by white pebbles, dry leaves, and compost (Table 3).

 

 

There was a significant difference in SWC between the mulch types (P < 0.05; F = 5.73; d.f. = 4.1165). Shrubs with no mulch (control) had a significantly lower SWC than shrubs mulched with any of the other types of mulch (Table 3). Shrubs mulched with bark chips had a slightly higher mean SWC than shrubs mulched with dry leaves, followed by white pebbles, and lastly compost (Table 3).

For Trial 1, SWC decreased from 19.83 ± 1.23 % for all shrubs on Day 1, to 4.87 ± 1.19 % on Day 43 (Fig. 3). Therefore, SWC decreased by 75% over 42 days with no watering, except on Day 1. The outlier value on Day 41 is attributed to accidental over-spray from watering conducted in the adjoining hothouse.

 

 

SC measures of shrubs decreased by 80.5% from Day 1 (68.23 ± 0.96 mmol·m^-2·s^-1), when they were last watered, over 37 days to the last day of the trial (13.28 ± 5.35 mmol·m^-2·s^-1) (Fig. 4). Mean SC increased slightly from Day 4 to Day 5 for shrubs mulched with bark chips, dry leaves and white pebbles (Fig. 4).

 

 

Trial 2 ran during Gauteng's summer season. Results from one-way ANOVA analysis showed that there was a significant difference between compost and pebbles for SC (P < 0.05; F = 3.12; d.f. = 4.1165), where shrubs mulched with pebbles had a significantly higher SC than those mulched with compost (Table 4). SC then decreased non-significantly with bark chips, followed by dry leaves, and no mulch (Table 4).

 

 

There was a significant difference in SWC between the mulch types for Trial 2 (P < 0.05; F = 3.52; d.f. = 4.1165). Shrubs with compost had a significantly lower SWC than shrubs mulched with white pebbles, while no mulch, dry leaves, and bark chips had similar SWC and were not significantly different from one another (Table 4).

SWC decreased by 92.2% in Trial 1, from 8.78 ± 0.6 % for all shrubs on Day 1, to 0.69 ± 0.17 % on the last day of the trial (Fig. 5).

 

 

For Trial 2, SC measures of shrubs decreased by 98.6% from Day 1 (34.52 ± 4.13 mmol·m^-2·s^-1), when they were last watered, over 37 days to the last day of the trial (0.49 ± 0.26 mmol·m^-2·s^-1) (Fig. 6).

 

 

An unpaired independent Student t-test showed significant differences between the trials for both SWC and SC (Table 5).

 

 

Simple linear regressions showed a significant relationship between SC and SWC (Table 6) for all mulch types and the control in Trial 1.

 

 

There was no significant relationship between SC and SWC for any of the mulch types or the control in Trial 2; however, there was a weak positive relationship for dry leaves in Trial 2 (Table 7).

 

 

The greatest loss in SWC over the trial period in Trial 1 occurred in the control plants (no mulch) (91.2%), while the least SWC lost was in the plants mulched with compost (51.6%) (Table 8). In Trial 2, the greatest loss in SWC occurred again in the control (94.4%), while the smallest loss occurred in plants mulched with white pebbles (83.9%) (Table 8).

 

 

By the end of Trial 1, SC had dropped the most in plants mulched with dry leaves, and the least in plants mulched with compost (Table 8). In Trial 2, SC decreased by 100% in plants mulched with dry leaves, while the smallest decrease occurred in plants mulched with white pebbles (Table 8).

 

DISCUSSION

Water use for maintenance of landscapes and gardens accounts for a large percentage of total urban water use, emphasizing the importance of reducing water loss (Zajicek and Heilman, 1991). The response of plants to water stress is complex and often modified by the presence of other stresses (Chaves et al., 2002). This research aimed to understand how the application of mulch to the soil surface of an un-watered potted shrub can affect the soil water content and potentially the plant's health, as indicated in this study by stomatal conductance.

Mulch as a method of conserving soil moisture

Mulch is instrumental in acting as erosion control with the application of vegetative matter, such as grass, leaves and prunings (Omoro and Nair, 1993). The application of mulch can be classified as an effective soil conservation practice (Smets et al., 2007).

In an analysis of tree seedling establishment in an arid environment, Zegada-Lizarazu and Berliner (2011) found that with an application of 70% mulch treatment, the optimum utilization of stored soil water and seedling development was achieved. Opinions differ regarding the amount of water conserved by mulch; Campbell (1991) reports a reduction of moisture evaporation by between 10 and 50%, while other sources report a saving of up to 70% (Water Wise, n.d.). Othieno (1980) noted that mulching over tea plants in Kenya during a prolonged drought was always more effective at conserving soil moisture content than no mulch.

Results from this research show that mulch, regardless of the type or whether it is inorganic or organic, allows for significant conservation of SWC of potted shrubs in a controlled environment, as compared with the shrubs of the same species that were not mulched. SWC indicates the amount of water present in the soil (Bilskie, 2001). For this research SWC was measured as volumetric soil moisture content and expressed as a percentage between 0 and 50%. For Trial 1, after approximately 6 weeks with no irrigation, shrubs with mulch had a SWC of between 10.42% and 12.42%, while shrubs with no mulch had a SWC of 9.43%. For Trial 2, shrubs with no mulch had a higher SWC than with shrubs mulched with organic mulch, namely bark chips, dry leaves and compost. Cook et al. (2006) suggest that, while organic mulch such as compost will increase soil water content, it will also increase water uptake by the plant. This may explain why shrubs with bare soil had a higher SWC than organically-mulched shrubs, during Trial 2, which is the growing season. Organic mulch has been shown to enhance root growth and yield. In addition, mulch can increase the diffusion of water under the vapour pressure gradient, especially during the growing season; this means that water consumption is highest under mulch and minimum in un-mulched soil (Kumar and Dey, 2010). Shrubs mulched with white pebbles had the highest mean SWC (3.34 ± 0.28%). However, by the end of Trial 2 (summer season), only 7% of the plants were still alive and 50% of those were shrubs mulched with white pebbles. In comparison, by the end of Trial 1 (winter season) only 8% of the plants had died.

The effect of mulch on stomatal conductance

Stomatal conductance is a means of measuring the movement of CO₂ and water vapour over the surface of a leaf (Swarthout, 2012). Studies on the photosynthesis-driven effect of water stress on stomatal conductance attribute the decrease in stomatal conductance from water stress to the reduction in photosynthesis (Wang, 2012). With slow-developing water deficits, one of the first events to take place in a plant is stomatal closure (Chaves et al., 2002).

This study used stomatal conductance as a plant health indicator as per Rahimi et al. (2013). Results for Trial 1 (winter season) showed that shrubs with mulch, regardless of the type, had significantly higher mean rates of stomatal conductance than shrubs with no mulch. For Trial 2 (summer season), shrubs mulched with pebbles had a significantly higher mean stomatal conductance than shrubs mulched with compost. Shrubs with no mulch had a slightly higher mean stomatal conductance than shrubs with compost. As per Liu et al. (2005), stomatal conductance increased slightly from Day 4 to Day 5 for shrubs mulched with bark chips, dry leaves and white pebbles, while it decreased steadily from Day 1 for shrubs mulched with compost, and shrubs with no mulch. For Trial 2, stomatal conductance decreased steadily from Day 1, with no increase besides a slight rise between Day 3 and Day 4 for shrubs with compost. This may indicate that the stress experience by shrubs in Trial 2 was severe, possibly due to increased temperatures as a result of the season. Results may also indicate that the presence of mulch types such as bark chips, dried leaves, and white pebbles may decrease the level of water stress experienced by plants that have not been watered.

Comstock (2002) notes that perturbations such as soil drying cause a reduction in hydraulic conductance, which is required to reduce stomatal conductance in order to maintain a stable leaf water potential. Water stress causes plants to close their stomata to reduce the loss of water from the leaf, and in doing so the movement of CO₂ from the boundary layer of the leaf to the sub-stomatal cavities is restricted (Warren et al., 2004), reducing stomatal conductance. Subsequently, stomatal limitations are more severe when a plant is stressed than when it is not (Farquhar and Sharkey, 1982). It can be assumed then, that mulch may contribute to the reduction in loss of soil moisture and therefore an increase in stomatal conductance. Simple linear regressions only showed a significant negative relationship between volumetric soil moisture content and stomatal conductance in Trial 1, which was conducted during the cold winter season. Schulze et al. (1973) showed that stomata of plants in a hot desert island closed with an increase in field temperature when a plant was under high water stress, independent of atmospheric humidity. Steinberg et al. (1989) also showed that water stress lowers stomatal conductance in mature leaves. Temperatures experienced in Trial 1 were significantly lower than those experienced in Trial 2 (P < 0.05) and it can be assumed that high temperatures during Trial 2 may have affected the increased closure of stomata and reduction in stomatal conductance.

 

CONCLUSION

This research indicates that the application of mulch can significantly reduce the loss of soil moisture from potted shrubs, and lengthen the duration of health of plants over time. Organic mulch, specifically dry leaves, proved to be most effective at conserving soil moisture under cooler, winter conditions, while bark chips ensure a higher rate of stomatal conductance in shrubs. This means that plants mulched with bark chips were 'healthier' for longer than plants with other mulch types, even though SWC was lower. Under hot summer conditions, mulching with white pebbles produced significantly higher soil moisture levels for longer, while compost, bark chips and dry leaves were inefficient in acting as a mulch in terms of soil moisture conservation. In other words, it is possible that the organic mulches did not provide a sufficient barrier to water loss through evaporation from the soil surface, especially during the high growth season. Plants mulched with white pebbles had the highest stomatal conductance as opposed to other mulch types.

Ambient hothouse temperature had a significant effect on both SC and SWC, with a mean decrease in both measures occurring during the hot summer season, as opposed to the cold winter season. There was also a significant positive relationship between SC and SWC during the winter trial but not during the summer trial. During the cold winter season, SC and SWC decreased congruently over time for all mulch types, which indicates that mulch type does not have a great influence on plant health and SWC conservation during the non-growing season. SC and SWC was significantly higher on average during the cold winter season, than in the hot summer season, which may indicate that mulch has a more substantial effect under cooler ambient temperatures than it does under warmer conditions.

Gardeners and landscapers can save up to 20.4% of SWC using mulch, as opposed to no mulch. The benefits of the two most successful mulch types in terms of soil water conservation and overall plant health as indicated by SC, namely, bark chips and white pebbles, need to be weighed up in comparison with their disadvantages. While bark chips improve water-holding capacity of the soil, reduce weed growth, cool the soil, and are widely available in a number of sizes and colours, bark chips can decompose relatively quickly (within 1-2 years) and can cause the removal of nutrients such as nitrogen from the soil during decomposition. In comparison, white pebble mulch does not decompose, and allows effective infiltration of water; however, it can heat up soil and does not assist with the water-holding capacity of soil (Wiese, 1999).

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Rand Water for sponsoring this research. Professor J Hendrick provided scientific support. Staff at Rand Water Environmental Management Services Nursery are thanked for their contribution to monitoring and recording results from the field trials.

 

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Received 8 December 2016
Accepted in revised form 18 June 2018

 

 

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed. 011 724 9371. e-mail: sstelli@randwater.co.za