A Study on the Dust Retention Effect of the Vegetation Community in Typical Urban Road Green Spaces—In the Case of Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City

Qianqian Sheng (), Yuanhao Guo, Jiani Lu, Shuang Song, Weizheng Li, Ruizhen Yang and Zunling Zhu ()
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Qianqian Sheng: College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Yuanhao Guo: College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Jiani Lu: College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Shuang Song: College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Weizheng Li: Advanced Analysis and Testing Center, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Ruizhen Yang: Nanjing Sky Hunt Data Technology Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China
Zunling Zhu: College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the association between the plant community structure, leaf surface microstructure, nutrient element content, and the dust-retention capacity of garden plants in urban road green spaces. The plant community located along Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City was selected as the focal point of the investigation. Random sampling was performed on the urban road green spaces, determining the amount of dust trapped in plant leaves. Subsequently, the microstructure of the leaf surface was observed, and the content of nutrient elements in the plant leaves was determined. The study also entailed an analysis of the interrelationships between the leaf surface microstructure, plant nutrient element content, and the dust-retention ability of the plants. The findings of this study revealed notable variations in the dust-retention capacity of garden plants and the community structure observed along Ying Tian Street. Among the tree species, Cedrus deodara and Ginkgo biloba exhibited a remarkable dust-retention ability per unit leaf area. Among the shrub species, Abelia × grandiflora and Loropetalum chinense displayed a strong dust-retention capacity per unit leaf area. Similarly, Ophiopogon japonicus and Cynodon dactylon exhibited a robust dust-retention ability per unit leaf area among the herbaceous plants. Furthermore, the dust-retention ability of the plants exhibited a strong positive correlation with the dimensions of leaf stomata, specifically the length and width, while displaying a moderate positive correlation with the width of grooves on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Conversely, the thickness of the leaves did not exhibit a significant correlation. Additionally, the nitrogen content of the leaves exerted a significant influence on the dust-retention ability of the plants ( p < 0.05), although the phosphorus and potassium content factors did not exhibit a significant influence ( p > 0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize the utilization of plants with robust dust-retention abilities, such as C. deodara , A. grandiflora , O. japonicus , and C. dactylon , and implement a mixed planting approach encompassing a combination of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants within urban road green spaces.

Keywords: urban road green spaces; dust retention ability; nutrient elements; microstructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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