UWRF Greenwall Research

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Greenwall Research at the Minnesota State Fair

Research Findings

Benefits

Our multidisciplinary studies found the following benefits to students working in a greenwall-enhanced versus a control classroom environment:

Improved environmental perceptions
Higher self-assessed academic competence
Improved mood
Enhanced academic performance

Our results showed student attitudes, mood, and academic performance to be significantly higher in the greenwall-enhanced environment, and found significant differences favoring the greenwall environment in perceptions of air quality, academic anxiety, and environmental restoration. Our findings are consistent with previous studies showing significant psychological benefits of interior plantscaping in academic and work environments.

Design and Maintenance

We are also studying optimal design features and maintenance protocols. In studying design, our student researchers found that providing a porous, lightweight material as a layer in test greenwall panels resulted in healthy root growth. Cellular and genetic research is being conducted on a model plant used in biology, Chamaecrista fasciculata, also known as the Partridge Pea, in an established multi-species greenwall and in test greenwall modules in the UWRF greenhouse.

The following maintenance factors important for greenwall plant health and sustainability are also being monitored in our performance studies:

Light level
pH
Electrical conductivity
Dissolved oxygen content

Our ongoing research will advance our understanding of environmental parameters necessary for a sustainable greenwall system, and advance our understanding of plant growth and development in greenwall systems from a model plant approach.