Green plants play an exceptionally important role against air pollution [1] [2]. They are functioning as a “living filter” for trapping smoke, dust, soot, and soot, as their leaves absorb many toxic substances. Therefore, one hectare of green plant species cleans about 18 million m³ of air per year [3]. Primary mechanisms by which vegetation is considered to improve air quality are dispersion involving the transportation and dilution of pollutants from the pollutant source; and deposition, the process by which pollutants are deposited on the plants solid surfaces by reducing pollutants atmospheric concentrations [4]. Leaf microstructure is characterized by groove area and trichomes which are significantly influenced dust deposition comparing to leaves with the smooth structure; foliar surface morphology has direct effects on the dust capture by leaves which is consistent with a degree of leaf roughness and the number of trichomes in the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf determined the dust retention capacity. Leaf roughness quantified by the groove area ratio to the total leaf area in percentage as shown in the following equation [5]:

Groovearearatio = A G / A L × 100 % (1)

here, A_G is a groove area (μm²) and A_L is the total leaf area (μm²).

In winter, dust accumulates under the canopy of parklands by 8% - 30% more than in open areas [6], which has been experimentally proven for one hectare of green plant territory per year filtering out 50 - 70 tons of dust from the air, reducing its concentration by 30% - 40% [7].

The ability of growing plants to retain dust and particulate substances is depending on their species, leaf and branch density, and surface properties related to the microstructure [8], and explained by several factors. Firstly, the biological processes taking place in plants allow assimilation of gases, binding, and deposition in the assimilation apparatus of leaves or even move along the branches [8] [9].

Secondly, the physical and mechanical properties of leaf surfaces and branches can retain and deposit dust. In this case, the dust deposition capacity depends on the total quantity of the leaf surface area and the structure of the leaf surface. Under equal conditions, rough, folded, drooping, and sticky leaves retain more dust comparing to smooth leaves [10]. For example, 2.3 times more dust settles on the elm leaves comparing to the poplar leaves, and 1.5 times more than on white ash leaves [11].

The third factor is explained by the ability of plantations to influence the wind regime in a green area. Above a warmer open space, the air rises upward, while cool air from the green mass rushes to replace the one that has risen. Therefore, a horizontal airflow arises, contributing to the ventilation of the territory, and the dispersion of harmful impurities, a decrease in their concentration [12]. Figure 1 shows the dust-removing capacity for plant species one adult tree during the growing season: pinnately branched elm removes from the air 28 kg of dust, rough elm 23 kg, horse chestnut 16 kg, field maple 20 kg, and ash left maple 33 kg, common ash 27 kg, poplar more than 18 kg [13], 20 times more dust [14]. Additionally, it was shown that during growing season average dust concentration in the open area is 42.2% higher compared with the area under the trees. Referring to the dustproof properties of various rocks, it was indicated that quantitative scales of dustiness are depending on the square of the plant growing area and the density of plantings [15].

According to research carried out in Central Asia [11] [23], it was found that plants with groove leaves have the most pronounced dust-protective properties, especially in spring, when crowns are fully developed, which result in the reduction of dust concentration by 33% - 39%. Effectiveness of dust retention capacity depends on the type of planting and crown density, as mixed plantings retain dust by 9% - 17% more than one type planting; and in vertical crown density, the dust retention capacity is 18% - 20% more in contrast to horizontal crown density.

As a result, green spaces assorted and positioned appropriately can provide good protection against dust, smoke, and harmful gases in the air. In connection with the above statements, we have reviewed the dust-holding capacity of 17 plant species, which are widely used trees and shrub plants. The dust retention capacity was determined by washing the leaves according to the method described in the reference [12], where the number of suspended solids was expressed in grams per 1 m² of the leaf surface.

It is also important to highlight that, the clearly expressed properties of the leaves in studied plant species were noted to keep different amounts of dust on their surface under the same dust conditions. As a consequence, on the needles of Junipers virginiana, which has the maximum dust-retaining ability comparing to other species, dust was deposited 2 times more than on the leaves of Plotinus orientalis, 4 times more than on Aesculushippocastanum, and 8 times more than the leaves of Acer campestre. The dust-holding capacity diversity of various leaf types were also noted previously [12] [16] [23].

Study performed in 2015, in the Osh city; dust-retaining ability of plant species in conditions of high dustiness first measurement carried out in Masalieva avenue. Second measurement carried out in the botanical garden with average dustiness conditions. The species studied by us can be divided into three groups according to the maximum dust-holding capacity [17]: the first group includes species with a high dust-holding capacity is over 8 m/m²: Juniper us Virginian, Biota oriental is, Ulmuspumila,Guercus Robur, and Platanusorientalis.

The second group includes species with an average dust-holding capacity from 3 - 8 mg/m² such as Catalpa speciosa,Finus palasiana,Aesculus hippocastanum,Juglans regia, Gleditschiatriacanthos,psedoacacia, Sophorajaponica, Fraxinusexselsior, Populusnigra and Salix alba.

The third group includes species with a low dust-holding capacity below 3 mg/m², such as: Cerciscanadensis, Albizziajulibrissin, Betulapendula, and Acer campestre. From the studied fruit crops, apple, plum and cherry had an average, and apricot low dust-holding capacities. The dust retention capacity was determined by washing the leaves according to the Gusev method [12]. Here amount of solid substance mass was expressed in grams per 1 m² of leaf surface. Square in cm² was calculated for one leaf of each studied plant species. Average value of leaf surface square was determined from 10 leafs of one plant. Next, we determined the specific dust-retention capacity of leaves per 1 cm² by using an average area of one leaf according to the following formula [18]:

Sd= m/s (2)

here, Sd is the specific dust-retention capacity for one leaf, m means dust mass retained by one leaf, s is an average square of one leaf.

Measurement values t were shown in Tables 1-4, meaning difference error according to students criteria obtained from the following equation [19]:

t = X ¯ E − X ¯ K m E 2 + m K 2 (3)

The differences reliability expressed by obtained value (t) comparing with the tabular value at a 5% significance level (t = 0.05) with the number of freedom degrees t = m_E + m_K, where m_E and m_Kare the total number of individual results in the experimental and control groups, respectively.

The species of the first group are characterized by a special structure of the surface of leaves and needles. For instance, the needles ofJuniperus virginian and Biota orientalis (Figure 2) have numerous scaly leaves, due to which its surface increases and folds form, which contribute to the strong retention of dust. The leaves of Platanusorientalis are characterized by planted hydrodes that secrete a sticky substance [20]. Ulmuspumila leaves have a shallow surface (Figure 3). The listed features of the structure of the surface of leaves and needles make it possible for these plants to retain more dust. The accumulated dust is difficult to wash off and is not blown away by the wind. Indications that rough leaves retain more dust than smooth ones found by many authors [11] [21]. Platanusorientalis (Figure 4) and Catalpa speciosa (Figure 5) have high dust-retaining properties, which have sticky or pubescent leaves.

Note: t is the reliability of differences in maximum values in conditions of high dust and low dust.

The leaves of the second and third group plant species have almost smooth leaf surfaces and do not have the above-mentioned properties, therefore not illustrated in this article. When comparing Tables 1-4 data it can be seen that with the different dustiness of air, the same species can accumulate a different amount of dust. Table 3 and Table 4 are presenting data on the dust-holding capacity in conditions of a botanical garden. Therefore, in a lower dust content (when air dust concentration is 0.2 - 0.3 mg/m³) the amount of dust accumulated is significantly less in plant species comparing to city and streets with a dust concentration of 0.5 - 0.0.6 mg/m³ (t 2.31). Here valuet is the meaning of reliability difference in maximum values in high and low dust conditions according to the Student criteria [19] [22].

It is interesting that in different groups, the change in the dust-retaining ability in conditions of different dustiness is far from the same. The greatest differences are observed in the species of the first group from 1.98 to 3.82 times, the least in the species of the third group from 1.13 to 1.87 times.

Thus, the higher the dust-holding capacity of a species, the more it increases in conditions of high dust content in the air. Both in conditions of high dustiness city and streets and conditions of low dustiness Botanical garden, the dynamics of dust accumulation in all species is similar. The amount of dust collected increases from June to September. At the same time, as can be seen from Table 2 second measurement.

In all the species of the third group and some species of the second group (Salix alba and Rodiniapseudoacacia), the amount of dust on the leaf surface in September compared to August was lower, although the differences were insignificant. This is since measurements were preceded by light rain. As already mentioned, these species have a smooth leaf surface and even after a light rainfall, the amount of dust on them decreases even though, such precipitation did not affect the indicators of plant species of the first group. It is interesting that if, under conditions of high dust content, the September precipitation of the second measurement led to a decrease in the amount of retained dust in the species of the third group and some species of the second group, then under conditions of weaker dustiness, a decrease in these indicators is not observed (Table 2 and Table 4). This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that, under equal conditions, less dust is more strongly retained on the surface of the leaves.

It can be seen from Table 2 and Table 4 that both under conditions of high dustiness and under conditions of weaker dustiness, the data of both years for the species of the first and second groups do not differ significantly (t < 2.31), differ only in some species of the third group.

Thus, the species of the third group are the most labile in terms of dust-holding capacity, both in different years and even with small sediments. The third group include species with a low dust-holding capacity below 3 mg/m²Cercis canadensis,Albizzia julibrissin,Betula pendula, and Acer campestre.

Of the fruit crops we have studied, apple, plum, and cherry have an average, and apricot has a low dust-holding capacity. The species of the first group are characterized by a special structure of the surface of leaves and needles. The needles of Juniperusvirginian and Biota orienta is have numerous scaly leaves, due to which its surface increases and folds are formed, which contribute to the strong retention of dust.

The leaves of Ulmuspumila have a finely spaced surface (Figure 3), while the leaves of Platanusorientalis (Figure 4) are characterized by embedded guides, which secrete sticky substances [23].

The listed features of the structure of the surface of leaves and needles make it possible for these plants to retain more dust. The accumulated dust is difficult to wash off and is not blown away by the wind. Indications that rough leaves retain more dust than smooth ones are found by many authors [10] [20]. Catalpa speciosa (Figure 5) have high dust-retaining properties, which have sticky or pubescent leaves.

Table 3 and Table 4 show data on dust holding capacity in low dust conditions. When comparing the data shown in Tables 1-4, it can be seen that with different dust content in the air, the same species accumulate unequal amounts of dust.

More importantly, in different groups, the change in the dust-retaining ability in conditions of different dustiness is far from the same amount. The greatest differences were observed in the species of the first group (from 1.98 to 3.82 times), the least in the species of the third group, from 1.13 to 1.87 times (Table 2 and Table 4). Thus, the higher the dust-holding capacity of a species, the more it increases in conditions of high dust content in the air.

Both in conditions of high dustiness and conditions of low dustiness, the dynamics of dust accumulation in all species are similar. The amount of dust collected increases from June to September. At the same time, as can be seen from Table 2, in all species of the third group and some species of the second group (Salix alba and Rodiniapseudoacacia), the amount of dust on the leaf surface in September compared to August was lower, although the differences were insignificant. This is since light rain preceded the measurements in September.

To reduce the content of dust in the environment air in landscaped areas, the plant species of the first and second groups from the above classification were recommended for growing, such as Juniperusvirginiana, Biota orientalis, Ulmuspumila, GuercusRobur, Platanusorientalis, Catalpa speciosa, Finuspalasiana, Aesculushippocastanum, Juglansregia, Gleditschiatriacanthos, Robiniapsedoacacia, Sophorajaponica, Populusnigra, Salix alba, and Fraxinusexcelsior. Notably, in the conditions of city streets, dustiness after precipitation in September second measurement showed a decrease in the amount of retained dust in the plant species of the third group and some species of the second group, then in conditions of weaker dustiness, a decrease in these indicators were not observed. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that, under equal conditions, less dust is more strongly retained on the surface of the leaves.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Erkebaev, T., Attokurov, K., Sattarov, A., Shaimkulova, M., Orozaliev, N., Erkebaev, T., Topchubaeva, E., Kaparova, N. and Abdullaeva, Z. (2021) Dust Retention Ability of Plants as a Factor Improving Environment Air. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 12, 187-198. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2021.122011