Study on the correlation mechanism between the living vegetation volume of urban road plantings and PM2.5 concentrations

Abstract To study the effects of species diversity of different urban road green space on PM2.5 reduction, and to provide a theoretical basis for the optimal design of urban road plantings. Different combinations of road plantings in Xianlin Avenue of Nanjing were used as sample areas, and 3–6 PM2.5 monitoring points were set up in each sample area. The monitoring points were setup at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 m from the roadbed for detecting PM2.5 concentrations in different sample areas. Moreover, the living vegetation volume of each sample area was calculated. The coupling relationship between the living vegetation volumes and PM2.5 concentrations in different sample areas was evaluated by regression fitting and other methods. PM2.5 concentrations among different sample areas were significantly different. PM2.5 concentrations were higher in the morning than in the afternoon, while the differences were not significant. The living vegetation volumes of the eight sample areas varied from 2038.73 m3 to 15032.55 m3. Affected by different plant configurations, the living vegetation volumes in the sample areas showed obvious differences with an order of S7 > S2 > S3 > S1 > S5 > S6 > S8 > S4. The S2 sample area, which was considered as control, was inside a residential area. The fitting curve of living vegetation volumes and PM2.5 concentrations in sample areas of S1 and S3–S8 can explain 76.4% of the change in PM2.5 concentrations, which showed significant fitting. The fitting relationship between living vegetation volumes and PM2.5 concentrations in different road green space is different owing to different compositions of plantings. With the increase in living vegetation volumes, their fitting functions first increase and then decrease in a certain range. It is speculated that only when the living vegetation volume exceeds a certain range, it will promote PM2.5 reduction.