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Elevated phosphorus: dynamics during four years of green roof development

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Abstract

Green roofs are emerging engineered ecosystems that provide multiple benefits, but many are constructed with nutrient-rich substrate and have been found to leach out high levels of phosphorus (P) in runoff. It is unclear, however, how long green roofs act as sources of P or what mechanisms are responsible for these net losses. We measured P concentrations in runoff water over 4 years from a 1–5 year old extensive green roof in Cincinnati, OH, USA, produced a model to predict runoff P levels into the future, and validated predictions using runoff from 2 nearby extensive green roofs. P concentrations in runoff from the focal green roof were on par with heavily fertilized agroecosystems and displayed strong seasonal dynamics and a rapid decline over the 4-year study. Runoff measurements and changes in substrate P content over a 2-year period were used to estimate a mass balance for green roof P. P loss from the substrate was substantial (4.55 ± 2.3 g P/m2/yr), but only a small portion of the loss was attributable to leaching of P in runoff (0.19–0.65 g P/m2/yr). Missing P may be attributed to a combination of plant uptake and altered P form and binding strength, but further research is needed to precisely identify the mechanisms of P depletion. Our results also suggest that these and similar extensive green roofs are likely to act as environmentally significant sources of P for 10 or more years following roof installation, highlighting the need for reductions in initial substrate P content.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Sanitation District 1, and Turkeyfoot Middle School for their continued support, as well as Aaron McCoy, Jeremy Alberts, Kate Johnson, Steven Doyle, and Vivian Miller for their help and expertise. Support was provided by the University of Cincinnati Dean’s Fellowship and the Department of Biological Sciences Wieman-Benedict Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 318 Clifton Ct, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Mark E. Mitchell, Stephen F. Matter & Ishi Buffam

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, 148 Science Center, Nunn Dr, Highland Heights, KY, 41099, USA

    Richard D. Durtsche

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  1. Mark E. Mitchell
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  2. Stephen F. Matter
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  3. Richard D. Durtsche
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  4. Ishi Buffam
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Correspondence to Mark E. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, M.E., Matter, S.F., Durtsche, R.D. et al. Elevated phosphorus: dynamics during four years of green roof development. Urban Ecosyst 20, 1121–1133 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-017-0664-3

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