An experimental approach to compare carbon sequestration rate of four species of legume used as biological façade

Abstract

Vegetation played an important role in reducing carbon concentration of the environment. Instead of planting horizontally, we attempted to look at planting leguminous plant vertically as biological facade. In tropical climate as in Malaysia, public sensitivity in vertical planting is mostly for aesthetic purposes. This research is focused on selecting vertically grown plant from the point of carbon uptake. We investigated the physiological performance especially the rate of C sequestration on potted plants of four legume species, which are Pisum sativum, Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis, Psophocarpus tetrogonobulus and Phaseolus vulgaris. The research is carried out in an urban area of Penang Island (5°21’20.39”N, 100°17’30.03”E). Data were collected during non-rainy season where the temperature was about 32.5°C to 37.5°C. Three potted plants represented each species of legume. Seedlings were grown in shed with fewer than 50% daylight for the first month, thereafter transferred to open sunlight after maturation. The potted plants received direct evening sunlight from 1 pm to 5 pm. The photosynthetic assimilation rates were taken when the plants were four months old. Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis (long yard bean) has recorded the highest average photosynthetic assimilation rate of 13.275 μmole m–2 s–1.