Application of ion exchange substrate and Archaea organisms for enhanced plant development on barren grounds

The study was carried out to test the ability of improving plant growth by ion exchange substrate and Archaea microorganisms on barren grounds (e.g. on road ambankments, bridge slopes). To achieve this aim, a pot experiment with orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) as the test species was performed. For the needs of the test two media series were prepared: the control – sand (model of barren ground) and mixture of sand with 2% v/v addition of ion exchange substrate (carrier of nutrients for plants). During plant growth half of the pots in the control series was watered with tap water while the other half was watered with tap water enriched with Archaea organisms eluted from Arkea® substrate (the product of Archaea SolutionsTM). Pots containing the mixture of sand with ion exchange substrate were treated in the same way. After finishing the experiment, it was stated that the addition of ion exchange substrate to sand affected plat growth advantageously increasing values of vegetative parameters significantly. Contrary to expectation, the positive effect of Archaea microorganisms on growth of test species was not observed. The ion exchange substrate can be recommended as mean improving plant development on degraded soils and road infrastructure facilities.