Absorption Ability of Different Tree Species to S, Cl and Heavy Metals in Urban Forest Ecosystem

Abstract

Heavy metals and atmosphere pollutants that caused the soil pollution and low air quality are main environmental problems in cities which located in the industrialized regions. Different tree species in urban forest ecosystem have absorption ability to heavy metals in the soil and atmosphere pollutant and ameliorate environmental pollution. However, the influence of different tree species on the absorption ability of different pollutant is not yet clear, and this held up selection suitable tree species in urban forest plantations to improve urban environment. In the study we compered pollution absorption ability of 13 tree species in Shenyang, Northeast China. The results showed that, the adsorption capacity of different tree species on pollutants are different. The highest value of Cu was 9.32 mg kg-1 found in Berberisthumbergii cv. Atropurpurea, Zn was 51.461 mg kg-1 in Pinus bungeana, Pb was 7.459 mg kg-1 in Malus pumila Mill, Cr was 9.841 mg kg-1 in Buxus microphylla, S was 8916.07 mg kg-1 in Salix babylonica, Zn was 4678.388 mg kg-1 in Buxus microphylla. Pollutant concentrations in the same plant species are different in 3 different sample sites. This indicate the contaminated degree of 3 sample sites were different. In our study, Huigong square pollution degree is serious than the Beiling Park and Huishan ecological park. Significant correlation was found between Cu and Cr, Cu and Cl, S and Zn, Cr and Cl (P<0.01) and that between Cu and Zn, Cu and Pb at 0.05 level. The relationship between heavy metals and atmosphere pollutant (S and Cl) indicated that traffic activities could be one of the dominant roles of heavy metal and atmosphere pollution in Shenyang City.