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Where trees cannot grow - Particulate matter accumulation by urban meadows.
A Przybysz1, R Popek1, M Stankiewicz-Kosyl1
1Section of Basic Research in Horticulture, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
The Science of the Total Environment
|May 1, 2021
Summary
Urban meadows with herbaceous plants effectively capture particulate matter (PM). Feathery leaf shapes and high biomass contribute to greater PM accumulation than lawns, highlighting their role in nature-based air pollution solutions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Urban Ecology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Trees and shrubs are known to remove particulate matter (PM), but herbaceous plants in urban meadows are understudied.
- Urban meadows are often situated near roads, a primary source of urban PM.
- Understanding PM accumulation by meadow plants is crucial for urban air quality management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the tolerance of selected urban meadow plant species to urban conditions.
- To quantify particulate matter accumulation by herbaceous plants in urban meadows.
- To compare PM accumulation in urban meadows versus lawns.
Main Methods:
- Selected herbaceous plant species were grown in annual and perennial urban meadow settings and lawns.
- Particulate matter accumulation was measured in the immediate vicinity of roads.
- Results were analyzed in relation to species composition, biomass, soil conditions, and ambient PM concentrations.
Main Results:
- Specific species like Achillea millefolium and Echium vulgare showed high PM accumulation in annual and perennial meadows, respectively.
- Feathery leaf shape and plant wax content positively correlated with PM deposition.
- Urban meadows accumulated more PM per square meter than lawns, with high biomass and canopy structure being key factors.
Conclusions:
- Herbaceous plants in urban meadows, particularly those with feathery leaves and high biomass, are effective at accumulating particulate matter.
- Urban meadows demonstrate significant potential for mitigating air pollution.
- Meadows represent a valuable nature-based solution for improving urban air quality.
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