The use of traditional and alternative antifreeze salts on herbaceous and shrub species for urban decoration: experimental results.

摘要

Deicing salts are essentially composed of sodium chloride (NaCl) and represent a serious problem in temperate countries since they damage plants along the streets. At the Experimental Centre of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Turin, Italy, two trials determining the resistance to salinity of six ornamental species (Vinca minor, Hedera helix, Mahonia aquifolium, Lonicera pileata, Euonymus fortunei and Symphoricarpos racemosus) were carried out. The first trial concerned the study of the effects of NaCl, KCl, and K2CO3 on V. minor, H. helix and M. aquifolium. Each salt was applied at 0.125 and 0.25 N. The second trial consisted of a comparison of the resistance of L. pileata, E. fortunei and S. racemosus to NaCl, applied at 0.25 N. V. minor and M. aquifolium showed a marked sensitivity following exposure to sodium chloride at the higher concentration. On the contrary, it was possible to verify a fair resistance of H. helix to saline treatments with NaCl at 0.25 N. In L. pileata, the treatment with NaCl determined a progressive browning from the end of the leaf to its base. In E. fortunei, the treatment with NaCl determined a progressive and diffused yellowing on all the leaf followed by withering. In the cases of V. minor and M. aquifolium, the possibility to use potassium carbonate appears promising..