Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2014, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (9): 970-977.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00091

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Patterns of dust retention by five common tree species for urban greening in Aksu City, Northwest China

Aliya BADRULLA1,Umut HALIK1,2,*(),Tayierjiang AISHAN1,2,Akram UBUL1,Kahaer ZHAYIMU1,Jin HUA1   

  1. 1College of Resources & Environmental Science, Xinjiang University/Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, ürümqi 830046, China
    2Faculty of Geography and Mathematics, Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett 85071, Germany
  • Received:2014-01-02 Accepted:2014-05-30 Online:2014-01-02 Published:2014-09-22
  • Contact: Umut HALIK

Abstract:

Aims Air pollution poses a long-term threat to human health and life quality of urban residents. In particular, dust pollution in oasis cities of arid regions has been associated with reduced life expectancy. Trees (especially their leaves) in cities can absorb airborne particulate matter and reduce the impacts of air pollution on people and urban environment. This study examined dust retention capacity of the leaves of Platanus × acerifolia, Populus alba var. pyramidalis, Ulmus densa, Fraxinus sogdiana, and Salix babylonica in different functional areas in Aksu City, Northwest China. Our objectives were to determine that how much dust can be removed on unit leaf area basis by each of the tree species and that how the patterns of dust removal may vary with time, among different sites, and the height where leaves are positioned.
Methods Dust samples were washed off the leaf surfaces and weighed by electronic scales with an accuracy of 1 μg (PTX-FA-210, Polestar, Hartford, USA). Individual leaf area was measured with a Laser Leaf Area Meter and the sediments on each leaf were analyzed by a Laser Particle Size Analyzer. Data were tested by multiple comparisons (ANOVA) using procedures in SPSS, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.
Important findings The amount of dust per unit leaf area differed among the five tree species and the four functional areas. The leaves of Platanus × acerifolia had the highest dust retention, and those of Salix babylonica had the lowest dust retention. Among different areas, the amount of dust retention ranked in the order of industrial area > transportation hub area > residential area > clean area. Leaves at a height of 1 m retained the most dust as compared with leaves at 2 m and 4 m, with the pattern being consistent across sites and among species.

Key words: Aksu City, different functional area, dust retention, multiple comparisons, urban greening trees