Chapter 1: Introduction, Significance and Aims of the Research, Procedure, and Structure of the Thesis
1.4 Summaries of the procedures used to grow the plants
The summaries of how the turf and native flower field work experiments were carried out are presented in the three following flow charts (Figures 1.1 to 1.3). Detailed methodology for turf experiments can be found in Chapter 4, and for native flowers in Chapter 8.
Kikuyu and Tall Fescue ‘instant’ turf placed on to sandy loam soil in pots. Turf subjected to weather in the open
Plant food solution and seaweed soil conditioner applied to all turf samples
Tap water applied as needed and turf grown for at least a month until uniform establishment in each pot
The supplied Kikuyu was uneven and over sown with Rye grass. The Rye grass was carefully pulled out Started watering Tall Fescue individually with 6 types
of greywater, plus with 2 reference treatments (i) plant food solution / water, and (ii) water
After 52 days extra pots of Tall Fescue included for treatment with a 7th type of greywater
Applied plant food solution and seaweed soil conditioner a second time to all Kikuyu samples Tap water again applied as needed and Kikuyu grown for at least a month until it was established uniformly Started watering Kikuyu individually with 7 types of greywater, plus with 2 types of reference treatments (i)
plant food solution / water, and (ii) water
Kept on watering with the greywaters and the reference treatments in between any rain events
Spring planted Kikuyu and Tall Fescue
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Figure 1.1 – Flow chart showing how the field work study with Spring planted Kikuyu and Tall Fescue turf grasses was carried out
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Turf was harvested several times during the experimental period and turf clippings collected each time for determining the dry weights. The heights of turf growth between each cutting session were measured
Tall Fescue experiment terminated after 384 days when unevenly distributed flowering stalks sprouted. Kikuyu experiment terminated
after 327 days
Soil core samples were taken from Kikuyu and Tall Fescue pots.
Tall Fescue flowering stalks were removed or cut at soil level.
The Kikuyu and Tall Fescue samples were prepared for two short term experiments as described below
Greywaters that produced poor long term turf growth had 0.5%
v/v urine added to them
Turf clippings were taken on two occasions
Tall Fescue experiment terminated after 96 days and Kikuyu after 85 days. Both Tall
Fescue and Kikuyu showed greatly improved growth
Turf samples that were subjected to 1% v/v urine for the whole experimental period above, were now administered double the amount of liquid at
each watering session Turf clippings taken on one occasion when the experiment
was terminated after 37 days
Both Tall Fescue and Kikuyu successfully survived very extreme heat wave conditions that occurred towards the end of the 37 days
TWO SHORT TERM EXPERIMENTS
Figure 1.2 – Flow chart showing how the field work study with Summer planted Kikuyu and Tall Fescue turf samples was carried out
Summer planted Kikuyu and Tall Fescue
New delivery of Kikuyu and Tall Fescue instant turf placed on to sandy loam soil in pots. Turf subjected to weather in the open
Plant food solution and seaweed soil conditioner applied to all turf samples
Tap water applied as needed and turf grown for at least a month until uniform establishment in each pot
Started watering both Kikuyu and Tall Fescue individually with 2 equal blends of phosphate laundry water and water from the shower (both with and
without urine), plus for reference (i) the 3 corresponding greywaters and (ii) plant food solution / water
Kept on watering with the greywater blends and the reference treatments in between any rain events
Turf was harvested several times during the experimental period and turf clippings collected each time for determining the dry weights. The heights of
turf growth between each cutting session were measured
Flowering stalks were removed from the Tall Fescue after cutting session at 322 days and the experiment was continued into the summer season
Termination of the Tall Fescue experiment occurred at 391 days and of Kikuyu at 392 days
Soil core samples were taken from the Tall Fescue and the Kikuyu pots
Figure 1.3 – Flow chart showing how the field work study with the native flowers Scaly Buttons and Small Vanilla Lilies was carried out
Scaly Buttons and Small Vanilla Lilies
Scaly Button and Small Vanilla Lily seedlings planted four to a pot into damp soil mixture composed of equal volumes of sandy loam soil, sieved basaltic
soil, and sieved composted eucalyptus mulch. The pots were placed in the open with the plants being subjected to the weather
Exposed soil in the pots was covered with sugar cane mulch, and a plant food solution plus a seaweed soil conditioner were applied to the plants
Water was applied to the plants when needed however the Small Vanilla Lilies died back and all dead stems of the Scaly Buttons were blown off by
the wind or were cut off
Addition of 8 different greywaters and 2 reference treatments (i) plant food solution / water, and (ii) water, commenced when new growth was evident in
April for the Scaly Buttons and 6 weeks later for the Small Vanilla Lilies
Through the growing period, in between any rain events, the greywaters and reference treatments were applied when needed
Measurements of stem or leaf lengths were taken on 3 occasions throughout the growth period
Experiments were terminated after 36 weeks of growth for the Scaly Buttons, and after 23 weeks for the Small Vanilla Lilies
Final results of plant responses to the greywaters were obtained by (i) counting the flower heads, (ii) determining dry weights of foliage, (iii) determining dry weights of roots, and (iv) measuring longest stem lengths
Soil core samples taken from Scaly Buttons and Small Vanilla Lily pots