TY - JOUR T1 - Aboveground Growth Response of <em>Platanus orientalis</em> to Porous Pavements JF - Arboriculture &amp; Urban Forestry (AUF) SP - 1 LP - 5 DO - 10.48044/jauf.2011.001 VL - 37 IS - 1 AU - Justin Morgenroth AU - Rien Visser Y1 - 2011/01/01 UR - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/37/1/1.abstract N2 - Integrating healthy, mature trees into paved urban environments is a challenging task for urban foresters, as impervious pavements are associated with reduced tree growth and survival. It is thought that porous pavements may alleviate this problem due to their permeability to air and water. The authors of the following study tested whether porous pavements affect tree growth relative to impervious pavements by measuring aboveground growth in trees treated with an augmented factorial arrangement of pavement profile designs and pavement types. Fifty oriental plane (Platanus orientalis) seedlings were evenly distributed to control plots or one of four treatments. Treated plots were characterized either by porous or impervious pavement pads measuring 2.3 m × 2.3 m, that were underlain either by fine sandy loam or a gravel base and compacted subgrade, reflecting two pavement profile designs. Results show stem height, diameter, and biomass increased as a result of porous pavements. Greater growth proffered by porous pavements was negated by profile designs including a compacted subgrade and gravel base. Finally, impervious pavements did not negatively influence tree growth, relative to control trees. ER -