Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality
Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been of concern owing to its negative effects on human health and its role in environmental degradation. For mitigation purposes, it is important to select the most efficient plant species in urban greening. Here, a fast, cost-saving methodology was first adde...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/2109 |
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| author | Huixia Wang Hui Shi |
| author_facet | Huixia Wang Hui Shi |
| author_sort | Huixia Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been of concern owing to its negative effects on human health and its role in environmental degradation. For mitigation purposes, it is important to select the most efficient plant species in urban greening. Here, a fast, cost-saving methodology was first added to the conventional method to investigate the size-resolved PM retention capacity and efficiency of twenty plant species. Surface PM (SPM), which can be removed by water and brushing, accounted for 44.9–66.9% of total PM, in which the water-soluble PM (DPM) accounted for 12.9–22.1% of total PM. A large mass proportion of in-wax PM (14.1–31.7%) was also observed. <i>Platycladus orientalis</i>, <i>Eriobotrya japonica</i>, <i>Viburnum odoratissimum</i>, <i>Magnolia grandiflora</i> had the highest <i>AE<sub>leaf</sub></i> (retention efficiency on per unit leaf area) to retain SPM within different diameter classes (DPM, PM<sub>0.1–2.5</sub>, PM<sub>2.5–10</sub>, PM<sub>>10</sub>). <i>AE<sub>plant</sub></i> (retention efficiency of individual tree) varied greatly among different plant species, mainly due to the dependence on the total area of a tree. <i>AE<sub>land</sub></i> (retention efficiency on per unit green area) is a suitable index for PM retention ability and efficiency. In general, <i>P. orientalis</i>, <i>V. odoratissimum</i>, <i>Pittosporum tobira</i>, <i>Photinia serrulate</i>, <i>M. grandiflora</i>, <i>E. japonica</i> were the efficient species in retaining PM at different scales (i.e., leaf, individual tree, green area). The species like <i>Trifolium repens</i>, <i>Phyllostachys viridis</i>, were the least efficient plant species. The investigated species are all evergreen species, which will remove PM throughout the whole year, even in winter. So, we recommended that the plant species with the highest PM retention efficiency can be used in urban greening. Meanwhile, horticulture practices should also be considered to improve the leaf area index to improve their PM retention and air purification abilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:14:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05604f588d4646e3bea0d23d6d5073cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:14:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-05604f588d4646e3bea0d23d6d5073cc2023-11-22T19:43:55ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-10-011010210910.3390/plants10102109Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air QualityHuixia Wang0Hui Shi1School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture & Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaSchool of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture & Technology, Xi’an 710055, ChinaAtmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been of concern owing to its negative effects on human health and its role in environmental degradation. For mitigation purposes, it is important to select the most efficient plant species in urban greening. Here, a fast, cost-saving methodology was first added to the conventional method to investigate the size-resolved PM retention capacity and efficiency of twenty plant species. Surface PM (SPM), which can be removed by water and brushing, accounted for 44.9–66.9% of total PM, in which the water-soluble PM (DPM) accounted for 12.9–22.1% of total PM. A large mass proportion of in-wax PM (14.1–31.7%) was also observed. <i>Platycladus orientalis</i>, <i>Eriobotrya japonica</i>, <i>Viburnum odoratissimum</i>, <i>Magnolia grandiflora</i> had the highest <i>AE<sub>leaf</sub></i> (retention efficiency on per unit leaf area) to retain SPM within different diameter classes (DPM, PM<sub>0.1–2.5</sub>, PM<sub>2.5–10</sub>, PM<sub>>10</sub>). <i>AE<sub>plant</sub></i> (retention efficiency of individual tree) varied greatly among different plant species, mainly due to the dependence on the total area of a tree. <i>AE<sub>land</sub></i> (retention efficiency on per unit green area) is a suitable index for PM retention ability and efficiency. In general, <i>P. orientalis</i>, <i>V. odoratissimum</i>, <i>Pittosporum tobira</i>, <i>Photinia serrulate</i>, <i>M. grandiflora</i>, <i>E. japonica</i> were the efficient species in retaining PM at different scales (i.e., leaf, individual tree, green area). The species like <i>Trifolium repens</i>, <i>Phyllostachys viridis</i>, were the least efficient plant species. The investigated species are all evergreen species, which will remove PM throughout the whole year, even in winter. So, we recommended that the plant species with the highest PM retention efficiency can be used in urban greening. Meanwhile, horticulture practices should also be considered to improve the leaf area index to improve their PM retention and air purification abilities.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/2109particulate matterretention efficiencydifferent scalesurban plantingair quality improvement |
| spellingShingle | Huixia Wang Hui Shi Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality Plants particulate matter retention efficiency different scales urban planting air quality improvement |
| title | Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality |
| title_full | Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality |
| title_fullStr | Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality |
| title_short | Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality |
| title_sort | particle retention capacity efficiency and mechanism of selected plant species implications for urban planting for improving urban air quality |
| topic | particulate matter retention efficiency different scales urban planting air quality improvement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/10/2109 |
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