Mediterranean species for hedges in solar photovoltaic farms: A four-year study.

Abstract

In an effort to reduce the environmental impact on the landscape caused by the installation of photovoltaic farms, Spanish legislation requires the establishment of a hedge on the perimeter of each plot. The objective of the work described here was to increase our knowledge of the hedge species that are best adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of Mediterranean areas. Six species were planted on the perimeter of a photovoltaic farm: Olea europeae var. sylvestris, Pistacea lentiscus, Pistacea terebinthus, Quercus coccifera, Quercus ilex and Retama sphaerocarpa. From 2009 to 2013 the survival percentages, apical growth, height and growth rate were studied for each species. Retama sphaerocarpa (91.7%), Pistacia lentiscus (83.3%) and Olea europaea var. sylvestris (70.8%) had the highest survival percentages at the end of the study period. In the same period, for those species that surpassed a survival percentage of 50%, the highest apical growths were shown by Retama Sphaerocarpa (37.04 cm), Pistacia lentiscus (26.4 cm) and Olea europaea var. sylvestris (25.8 cm), with average growth rate of 13.79 cm·year -1 , 7.60 cm·year -1 and 7.14 cm· year -1 , respectively. These three species are the best adapted to the conditions in Mediterranean areas for use as hedges.