Abstract
Carbon dioxide CO2 is an important trace gas in earth's atmosphere. It is a greenhouse gas that plays a vital role in regulating the earth's surface temperature through the greenhouse effect. Increase beyond the ambient concentration leads to global warming. Increase in CO2 discharge in UTHM (238.9 ha), due to increase in a number of vehicles; other greenhouse gases released from building amenities and dis-charges from neighbouring industries appeals for attention. Study was conducted on seven common species of herbaceous plants for their capacity in sequestering CO2. Estimation of carbon storage of herbaceous plants was obtained by the assessments of the aboveground standing biomass and their photosynthetic capacity. Musa sp has the highest CO2 absorption of 12.2µmol m-2 s-1, followed by Heliconia. psittacorum (10.63µmol m-2 s-1). Euphorbia tithymaloides and Costus spicatus has the lowest absorption with 3.63 and 3.76 µmol m-2 s-1 respectively. Calathea lutea and Hymenocallis latifolia shared the highest biomass accumulation of 0.04 kg. These were followed by E. tithymaloides and Alpinia purpurata with 0.02 kg. The least biomass of 0.01 kg was accumulated by H. psittacorum and C. spicatus. The total standing biomass captured by all the species of herbaceous plants is 0.13 kg. Therefore, species of herbaceous plants in UTHM have the potentials to absorb an adequate amount of CO2 from the atmosphere thereby contributing to reducing-the effects of localized global warming.
Highlights
Urban forests and trees are receiving added significance in developing countries of the world
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia UTHM is an institution of higher learning located at Parit Raja, Batu Pahat in the state of Johor, Malaysia with coordinates 1.8531° N, 103.0864°, occupying area of 238.8964 ha
The United Nation Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at its 16th Conference of the Paris agreement held in 2010, parties agreed that future global warming should not exceed 2°C and limit temperature to 1.5 oC compared to the pre-industrial temperature level as a result of the accumulation of CO2 in the environment (8)
Summary
Urban forests and trees are receiving added significance in developing countries of the world. They remain vital tools in urban biodiversity and play a role in reducing worldwide warming. The continuous increase of CO2 in the atmosphere that as witnessed from 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1850 up to 394 ppm in 2012 and recently 410.76 is as a result of continues accumulation of CO2 in the environment (10). The United Nation Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at its 16th Conference of the Paris agreement held in 2010, parties agreed that future global warming should not exceed 2°C and limit temperature to 1.5 oC compared to the pre-industrial temperature level as a result of the accumulation of CO2 in the environment (8)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call