Quality Certification for Vegetation Planted in a Thin Layer of Growing Medium, "Mat Plants", and a Reference of Suitable Plants and Their Utilization Characteristics

Abstract

I use the term "mat plants" to refer to vegetation with a thinned root layer and formed like a mat. Mat plants are useful for rooftop greening, embankment greening and general gardening. They are grown in 25 cm × 25 cm blocks in a growing medium layer 4 cm thick. They are very strong and durable with intertwined roots. They weigh about 30 - 40 kg / m², which is relatively light and makes them easier to handle. As the above-ground part is dense it is possible for mat plants to begin to fulfill their function as soon as they are planted. Therefore, they are promising as a rooftop greening material.
I selected 95 species and varieties of herbaceous plants and 74 species and varieties of woody plants as material for mat plants.
I studied several evaluation methods for mat plants and developed a "bending check method" in which no special materials were used. By using this method, the plants can be checked without damaging them, so I aim to make this the standardized test. It involves putting half of the mat plant on a level surface and then checking the unsupported half (12.5 cm). Those with matted bases whose edges do not sag below 5 cm are recognized as mat plants.