Retention of Atmospheric Particles by Local Plant Leaves in the Mount Wutai Scenic Area, China

Broad-leaved plants, particularly Populus davidiana (Po. davidiana), Rosa hugonis Hemsl. (R. hugonis), and Betula platyphylla Suk. (B. platyphylla), are highly effective in retaining atmospheric particles in the Mount Wutai scenic area, significantly contributing to air purification. The study found that these plants can retain up to 38.60 ± 18.32 mg/cm² of suspended particles before rain, with a substantial reduction observed post-rainfall (0.65 ± 0.23 to 3.50 ± 1.83 mg/cm²). The research analyzed eight plant species, assessing their particle retention capabilities through metrics such as weight, light-shaded area, and horizontal density of particles on leaves. While broad-leaved plants demonstrated superior performance, needle-leaved species like Pinus tabuliformis Carrière (Pi. tabuliformis) were found to be less effective for air purification in this context.

Shi, S., Wu, Z., Liu, F., & Fan, W. (2016). Retention of Atmospheric Particles by Local Plant Leaves in the Mount Wutai Scenic Area, China. Atmosphere, 7(8), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos7080104