SHORT-TERM PERFORMANCE OF SALICORNIA EUROPAEA L. IN AN EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF UNDER FRESHWATER, BRACKISH-WATER, AND SEAWATER IRRIGATION
Authors: Georgios Lykokanellos, Zinovia Desipri, Emmanouil Ionas Nikitas Kemaloglou, Stanimir Shalamanov and Valeria Ivanova
Georgios Lykokanellos: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, Nea Ktiria, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece.
Zinovia Desipri: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, Nea Ktiria, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece.
Emmanouil Ionas Nikitas Kemaloglou: Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Patras, Nea Ktiria, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece.
Stanimir Shalamanov: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agronomy, Agricultural University Plovdiv, 12 Mendeleev Boulevard, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Valeria Ivanova: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agronomy, Agricultural University Plovdiv, 12 Mendeleev Boulevard, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT
Extensive green roofs in Mediterranean cities may require irrigation, but the use of saline water is constrained by plant tolerance. This exploratory study assessed the short-term performance of Salicornia europaea L., three Mediterranean xerophytes, and one succulent xerophyte in nine outdoor DIADEM-150 green roof modules in Messolonghi, Greece. Three substrate mixtures were combined with freshwater, a 1:1 (v/v) freshwater-seawater mixture, or seawater irrigation; each substrate × water combination was represented by one physical module. Plant height was recorded for 63 plants on five dates from 10 April to 10 June 2025, and complete wilting was documented. Because independent module-level replication was absent, analyses were descriptive. Salicornia europaea showed positive mean height change in all brackish-water modules (14.0-14.7 cm) and seawater modules (5.0-16.3 cm), without complete wilting. One of six plants wilted under freshwater irrigation. Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme also maintained positive height change under all treatments, whereas Salvia officinalis, Lavandula dentata, and Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’ completely wilted in saline-irrigated modules. The findings provide screening-level evidence supporting Salicornia europaea for replicated, long-term evaluation in saline-irrigated extensive green roofs.
Keywords: Extensive green roof; halophyte; saline irrigation; seawater; plant height; Mediterranean climate.