THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE ARKANSAS LANDSCAPE

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1002362
• Project No.: ARK02441
• Project Start Date: Mar 21, 2014
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018

Project Director
Mcdonald, G.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
Ornamental plant development normally centers on controlled plant breeding, such as hybridized roses, or through selection of desired traits from wild populations or mutations (sports), such as pink-flowering dogwoods. Much of the breeding effort has centered on exotic or non-native plant species with an emphasis on aesthetics for use in ornamental landscapes. Even selections on native plant species is generally focused on improving the visual appearance of that particular species (Arnold). Little effort has been attempted on native species for selecting traits such as drought, heat, or pest tolerance. These particular attributes become important in terms of landscape sustainability in the face of climate change and constrained resources such as water. Provenance is the term used to describe plant species that evolve and adapt to local or regional environments including climate and geography. It is usually on a larger scale than niche or micro-environment sites but still limited to specific regions. For instance, red maple (Acer rubrum) is native from south Florida northwards to Quebec, Canada and west to about the 95th meridian or the beginning of the Great Prairie in the central US. Even though the species is native to a wide geographical range, plants originating from different vary greatly in landscape adaptation (Golet, et al. 1993). A red maple from south Florida will not adapt to conditions in New England and will most likely fail over time. Southwest US provenances such as south-central Texas show better drought and alkalinity resistance than eastern US provenances in baldcypress Taxodium distichum, a popular landscape tree (Denny et al. 2008). Provenance selection can also affect foliar disease resistance in baldcyrpess (McDonald et al. 2008). The Ozark physiographic region is unique in that it contains many plant species native to a large part of the eastern and central US, but being close to the 100th meridian, which generally delimitates the warm-humid areas from the semi-arid areas in North America, the potential exists to find genotypes adapted to adverse environmental conditions and therefore useful in sustainable landscape systems.Regional water authorities or municipal restrictions on exterior water use, such as for landscape and turfgrass irrigation is becoming more common and even systemic in many areas of the country as prolonged extreme and exceptional drought affects many areas of the country (SAWS 2013; EAA 2013). In addition, economic and fiscal constraints hamper efforts of many cities and water management authorities to increase water pumping and distribution systems even in areas with adequate surface or groundwater with the end results that water restrictions even occurring in those areas. The end result is less water for landscape irrigation and in extreme cases, outright bans or severe restrictions on new landscape installations (City of Dallas 2012). These bans can have a major negative impact on local and regional landscape businesses. In addition to irrigation and installation bans, landscapers, because of building scheduling and other economic pressures landscape firms are often required to install jobs at horticultural sub-optimal times such as mid to late summer when heat and drought conditions are at a maximum. These conditions require efforts to improve transplant success and establishment of particularly trees and shrubs using less water resources especially in re-vegetation projects or for use in sustainable systems. Several commercial products containing organic acids purport to improve transplant success, but no published independent research exists to validate claims of increased transplant success. A question that arises from the consideration of these products is whether claimed positive effects are simply nutritional (a slow-release form of nitrogen) or whether there is some modification of the rhizosphere because of the organic acids or a synergistic effect between the various nutritional and organic constituents. Juxtaposed with drought is the issue of stormwater capture and runoff in both urban and suburban areas. For example, many municipalities, including Fayetteville, Arkansas have ordinances that require mitigation of stormwater runoff for development (City of Fayetteville 2013). This mitigation is obtained in a number of ways, but the most common is the construction of retention ponds/basins, constructed wetlands, or permeable pavement to increase infiltration and reduce stormwater runoff. Design criteria and installation guidelines are fairly well established for catchment ponds/basins and are based on established parameters such as the area of the watershed being drained, agreed upon local rainfall intensities and duration and soil types among other engineering factors (Haan et al. 1994). What is not well known for the state of Arkansas and the south-central US in general is the proper plant palette to use in these systems to act as sediment filters, nutrient runoff scavengers, and associated micro-flora for bioremediation. While guidelines exist for some parts of the country notably the upper mid-West (Shaw and Schmidt 2003) little information is available for Arkansas and surrounding areas on useful plant species. In addition to the types of plants used in these systems, little research has been published on the long-term management of these stormwater catchment systems in urban or suburban areas since these are not natural wetland sites, but artificial constructed projects. For instance, if woody shrubs or trees are used in retention ponds, should they be coppiced occasionally or allowed to maintain a mature size or should perennial grass and sedges be mown, unmown or periodic burned or otherwise harvested. In addition to stormwater runoff catchment, green roof construction and utilization is being promoted as ways to intercept rainfall reduce stormwater runoff and moderate the urban heat island effect. Most green roof construction and development originated in northern Europe, Canada or the northern/northwestern states in the US (Bass et al. 2003, Earth Pledge 2005, Liu 2004). Research has been focused on more of the design and building properties but less so on long-term management of these roofs. Of particular interest is matrix composition and how organic matter affects plant establishment, subsequent stormwater runoff and the introduction of noxious weeds over time which can impede

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

75%

Developmental

25%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
111	2120	1070	50%
102	2420	1010	30%
132	2199	1070	10%
112	0320	3111	10%

Knowledge Area
102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 132 - Weather and Climate;

Subject Of Investigation
0320 - Watersheds; 2199 - Ornamentals and turf, general/other; 2120 - Herbaceous perennials and decorative greens; 2420 - Noncrop plant research;

Field Of Science
3111 - Landscape architecture; 1070 - Ecology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

native plants

sustainability

climate change

transplant and establishment

stormwater runoff

landscape management

Goals / Objectives
Developing and adapting sustainable methods and practices in landscape horticulture continues to be an important area of research nationally in commercial plant production (supply) and in landscape design, installation and management (demand). Recent episodes of prolonged and exceptional drought in many regions of the country point to the need to conserve water and to select and develop resource efficient plant material for the landscape. In addition, improvement in plant transplant success and plant establishment will be crucial as water resources become limited or costly and average high temperatures increase over time. Legal or policy mandated re-vegetation of degraded habitats or vegetation mitigation as the result of construction activities will demand plant selection, establishment, and management based on sustainable methods and practices.The increasing interest in and use of "green" technology such as green roofs, vertical gardens and permeable pavement in low impact development (LID) projects points to a lack of knowledge in both the production and utilization of appropriate plant material, but also a lack of knowledge of short and long-term management issues related to that green technology. Regional differences in climate and growing requirements dictate that local or environs approaches are taken to develop techniques and materials to meet the needs of the built environment. Predicted future climate change will impact the local landscape as changing rainfall and temperature patterns will drive changes in both landscape design and plant material selection. Non-source point pollution and stormwater runoff will continue to be a challenge to both plant producers and users in addition to local and regional resource managers and regulators. Again, as in areas previously mentioned, little is known about long-term management strategies in stormwater control components such as retention ponds and constructed wetlands.Objectives:To select and develop perennial plant species native to the Ozark and surrounding physiographical regions with particular attention to western provenances that might express greater drought and heat tolerance. The objective is to obtain plant material useful in low impact development (LID), re-vegetation projects, and "green" technology such as living roofs or vertical gardens. In addition, selection of drought and heat resistant landscape material for future use in Arkansas landscapes in response to possible future climate change.Investigate methods to improve tree or shrub transplant success and establishment in landscape situations using reduced resources such as irrigation or planting during the non-traditional summer months.Investigate and develop best management practices and recommendations for long-term sustainability of stormwater capture/runoff systems such as retention basins, constructed wetlands and green roof systems.Develop practices and plant materials that will contribute to sustainable nursery production.

Project Methods
Native plant species will be identified with potential for sustainable systems with emphasis on grasses, herbaceous perennials and sedges that can be used in stormwater runoff and or green roof design. Plant species thought to be water or other resource efficient will be targeted for selection. The primary source of propagules will be from seed when possible from verifiable provenances. Identical plant species from differing regional provenances or ecotypes will be collected or otherwise obtained from various sources and grown under conventional production until reaching a normal transplantable size. Plant species from the varying provenances will be planted out under simulated landscape situations for comparison and will be evaluated for transplant survivability and establishment performance similar to previous work done on baldcypress. Plants will be evaluated for general growth, vigor, heat, drought, pH tolerance and pest resistance a minimum of two growing seasons.Objective two will be met by continuing ongoing studies looking at humic acid or other potential compounds that can be used as amendments to typical landscape planting techniques. Methodology will be developed to try to 1: determine if differences exist between organic acid products and control plantings and 2: If differences exist to attempt to split out nutritional effects verses a root physiological or morphological bases for those differences.Objective three will focus on 1: Management of long-term weed control on newly established green roof plantings by the use of pre and post-emergent herbicides and the effect of those classes of chemicals on plant growth and possible toxicity of the planted material given high leaching rates and lack of buffering capacity of most green roof substrates. Collected leachate/runoff from such green roofs will be used in bioassays to determine herbicidal activity over time on either germinating seed or seedlings (pre and post-emergent agents) 2: Information concerning possible long-term implications of the use of herbaceous verses woody plants as vegetative cover in retention basins will be gathered and possible parameters identified that are crucial to long-term sustainability of those systems and develop best management practices (BMP's) or identify gaps in knowledge for further study.RobbinsThe University of Akansas will continue to collaborative efforts with other land grant institutions to develop and evaluate appropriate technologies for crop monitoring and plant inventory purposes. Current efforts utilize an unmanned aerial vehicle to accomplish these goals.Research will continue to evaluate fertilizer sources and their interaction with substrates and irrigation practices to enhance fertilizer efficiency.

Progress 03/21/14 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience included professional nursery operators, landscape installation and management professionals, and general homeowners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?New information on landscape plant performance was conveyed through professional presentations, Master Gardener training, and outreach to landscape professionals. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?New information was incorporated into open access resource material that is being developed for both academic courses and also available to nursery professionals and the general public through the University of Arkansas Library System. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? New plant material was evaluated for landscape performance with an emphasis on resource efficiency and low water use. Recommendations were conveyed to both local, state, and regional landscape professionals. In cooperation with the co-PI, research was conducted using drone technology to investigate crop health in containerized nursery production systems. Research was conducted on the production of native ginsing for commercial production to alleviate the collecting of wild material which is threatening native populations.

Publications

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience is primarily focused towards participates in the landscape horticulture industry including nursery and greenhouse producers, landscape designers, installers, and landscape managers. The audience also includes others involved in the horticultur industry such as local and regional resource managers and land use developers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary results of rooting attempts in Stern's medlar has been presented in a regional conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Initial attempt to asexually propagate an endemic and endangered species of Medlar canescens (Stern's medlar) that has ornamental potential but also to elucidate methods to perpetuate this species as it is limited to one clonal population. Further research is needed to try other than standard propagation methods as established methodology had limited success in rooting this species. Several perennial species hybrid cultivars were field tested for landscape performance during the past growing season. Cold hardiness is being evaluted during the current winter/dormant season.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hawkins, B.W. and G.V. McDonald. 2016. Rooting attempts in Sterns medlar Mespilus canescens J.B. Phipps, a critically endangered Arkansas endemic plant species. HortScience 52(9):S16

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience is commercial and professional producers of landscape plant materials including nursery and greenhouse operations. Other target audiences are professional landscape designers and landscape management operations, and land and resource managers. A final target audience is the general public who are involved in many aspects of overall landscape management. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1.Information gathered concerning the spread and infestation of crapemyrtle bark scale has been used to train Cooperative Extension Agents and landscape and land managers/professionals on the potential impact of this new and fast-spreading pest on commercial and provide landscapes. 2. Instruction/training provided to local and regional landscap architects/designers, engineers, developers, and resource managers on the use of Low Impact Development (LED) techologies in public and private construction projects. 3. Information from this project has been used to train horticulture and landscape professionals on new plant genotypes useful of low input landscapes and plants tolerant of heat and drought. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1. Results from this project have been presented at state, regional, and national meetings including the American Society for Horticultural Sciences- Southern Region, The Arkansas Green Industry Conference, The XXV International Congress of Entomology, The Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society, and The Northwest Arkansas Stormwater Education Program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Continue to evaluate new plant germplasm for adaptation to low-input landscapes. 2. Continue to investigate propagation methodoloy and germplasm conservation of Mespilus canescens. 3. Investigate the potential of using a novel proprietary organic biosolid substrate on containerized flowering performance. 4. Continue to monitor and develop management strategies to control the infestation of crapemyrtle bark scale.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Fifty genotypes representing 8 genera of annual and perennial plants were evaluated for heat and drought tolerance that are adapted to sustainable landscapes in the Ozark Highland Regions. 2. A project was initiated to investigate the propagation potential of Stern's medlar Mespilus canescens J.B. Phipps, a critically imperiled endemic Arkansas plant with landscape potential. 3. Investigated and documented the spread and impact of crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS) on landscape plantings located in Arkansasto develop management techniques to counter this new pest.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: McDonald, G.V. 2016. Summer 2015 bedding plant evaluations at the University of Arkansas. HortScience 51(9):S22. (Abstr).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wisdom, M., M.Richarson, D. Karcher, G. McDonald. 2016. Evaluating spring bulbs in warm season lawns. ASA, CSSA,& SSSA International Annual meetings. Phoenix AZ. Nov 6-9, 2016
• Type: Websites Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Website to facilitate interaction with stakeholders concerning crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS). http: //www.eddmaps.org/cmbs/
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vafaie, E., M. Merchant, M. Gu, J.Hopkins, and J. Robbins. 2016. Phenology and management of a new scale pest, Eriococcus lagerstroemiae Kuwana (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), of crape myrtles in the Southern US. 64th Annual meeting of the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. 02/22-25. Tyler. TX
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vafaie, E. M. Merchant, M. Gu, J. Hopkins, J. Robbins. 2016. Developing an IPM strategy for a new scale pest of crapemyrtles in Texas, Acanthococus (= Eriococcus) lagerstroemiae. 2016 XXV International Congress of Entomology. Orange County Convention Center. 09/30/16. Orlando, FL.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences are landscape architects, landscape designers and installers, regional and state landscape resource managers and planners, landscape plant producers, general landscape and horticulture industry and public consumers of horticultural products and services. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Information gained from this project in the past year has been conveyed to the public in the following venues: Professional development and continuing education credit for civic engineers, architects, landscape architects, land use planners and regulators in addition to landscape industry designers, installers and managers. Outreach training activities for Cooperative Extension programs such as Master Gardener in addition to training and professional development for the Arkansas Green Industry Association. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1. Presenting research results and regional professional horticulture meetings and actively participating in state green industry programs and training. 2. Magazine articles written for the general public in both the State of Arkansas and thoughout the Southern US region. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue research on identifying native and adapted plants for use in sustainable and low-inpact development (LID) landscapes with an emphasis on heat and drought tolerance. Investigate potential stormwater runoff quality issues using greenroof technology as related to management of those roofs in areas such as fertility and weed control.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Research was conducted that showed varying degrees of tolerance to acute ozone exposure among different genera of perennial plants native to the Ozark Highland geographical region that have landscape potential. The data also showed that there were differences in ozone tolerance between different plant species within a particular genera such as the genus Echinacea. This finding suggests that particular species within a genera would be better suited for use in landscape projects located in areas of poor air quality, such as urban sites or in rural areas abutting areas of high traffic such as interstates or highway interchanges which might experience local "hot spots" of ozone exposure. 2. Research was conducted in the efficacy of using organic humic acid products as soil conditioners to lessen the time for plant establishment after transplanting especially under reduced irrigation regimes. Results were unclear under the conditions tested but a slight synergistic effect was noted when organic acids were used with weak fertilizer solutions. 3. Nothing to report. 4. Planted and evaluated around 30 new plant species and/or cultivars for season long landscape establishment and performance under minimally irrigated conditions under simulated landscape sites. Certain plant species and cultivars within a particular species have superior landscape performance under minimum resource allocation. Results from this research will be reported to landscape and nursery professionals for use consideration.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: McDonald, G.V. and S. Frey. 2015 Response of Selected Ozark Region Flowering Perennials to Acute Ozone Exposure. ASHS-Southern Region Annual Meetings. Atlanta, GA. February 1, 2015.

Progress 03/21/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience for this project are landscape professionals in design, contracting and construction. Other targeted audiences are professional horticultural producers, educators, academics, and public stakeholders. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Information gained from this project was used to train designers, contractors, landscape professionals, engineers, and local and regional resource managers in low impact development, stormwater runoff control, sustainable methodology via a seminar series. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An invited presentation was given entitle "Native Plant Characteristics and Categories" at the Blue Pathways Seminar Series. This series is a collaborative effort between the Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, the Arkansas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Urban Stormwater Education Program. Communities of interest included: engineers, designers, landscape professionals, commercial developers, contractors, and local and regional resource managers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue research opportunities to develop resouce efficient landscape plant materials and techniques for sustainable landscape systems. In particular, the goal is to identify regional plant resources that may be suitable for cultivation in sustainable landscapes and evaluate performance under landscape situations and develop production information on those potential plants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A seedling planting of short-grass prairie grass species was established to evaluate potential germplasm selections for sustainable landscape use including green roof technology and re-vegetation projects. Research was conducted to study the efficacy of organic acids on transplant success and plant establishment using rose as a model system.

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: McDonald, G.V. 2014. Grafting and budding exercises with woody and herbaceous species. Chapter 28. In: Plant Propagation. Concepts and Laboratory Exercises. 2nd Edition. C.A. Beyl, and R.N. Trigiano (eds). CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Adams, R.P., M.A. Arnold, J.J. Griffin, J.K. Illes, G.W. Knox, G.V. McDonald, and N. Genhua. 2014. Environmentally induced variation in the leaf volatile terpenes of Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.(Cupressaceae). Phytologia 96(3)
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Toland, D.C., M.E. Boyer, G.V. McDonald, C.P. West, and B.E. Haggard. 2014. Plants influenced by growing media and compost addition on mock green roofs within the ozark highlands. Journal of Green Building 9(1) pp. 130-144.