A plant that absorbs pollution from cars has been found - the science explained
The bushy, hairy-leafed cotoneaster is a “super plant” that can soak up pollution of busy roads, according to horticultural experts.
Scientists at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) published a paper that looked at the effectiveness of hedges as air pollution barriers, and found that in traffic hotspots, the cotoneaster is at least 20 per cent more effective at absorbing pollutants compared to other shrubs.
According to a recent RHS commissioned survey of 2,056 adults, air pollution affects one in three people (33 per cent) in the UK, and poor air quality has been declared as the largest environmental risk to UK public health.
‘The cotoneaster traps 20% more emissions’
Dr Tijana Blanusa, research lead for the paper and RHS Principal Horticultural Scientist, said: “On major city roads with heavy traffic we’ve found that the species with more complex denser canopies, rough and hairy-leave such as cotoneaster were the most effective.
“We know that in just seven days a one metre length of well-managed dense hedge will mop up the same amount of pollution that a car emits over a 500 mile drive.
“We estimate the Cotoneaster franchetii traps 20 per cent more emissions than other hedges we have tested so would be ideal along busy roads in pollution hot spots.
“For other areas where encouraging biodiversity and pollinators is key, a mix of different hedge species would be recommended.”
In the last 10 years, RHS scientists have intensified their research to find solutions to help ease environmental issues, such as air pollution, heatwaves and localised flooding, in order to amplify the positive impact of gardens and green spaces on the environment.
‘Plans can help alleviate numerous environmental issues’
Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science and Collections, said: “RHS science has shown that underlying traits of certain plant species and cultivars, such as leaf shape and root features, help alleviate numerous environmental issues.
“We are continually identifying new ‘super plants’ with unique qualities which when combined with other vegetation provide enhanced benefits while providing much needed habitats for wildlife.
“We’ve found for example that ivy wall-cover excels at cooling buildings and hawthorn and privet help ease intense summer rainfalls and reduce localised flooding.
“If planted in gardens and green spaces where these environmental issues are most prevalent we could make a big difference in mitigating against and adapting to climate change.”
Mti unaoweza kuondoa uchafuzi wa hewa kutoka kwa magari umegunduliwa - wanasayansi wameeleza Mti huo wenye majani yenye manyoya na wenye manyoya ni "mti mkubwa" ambao unaweza kuondoa uchafuzi wa hewa kutoka kwenye barabara zenye shughuli nyingi, kulingana na wataalamu wa kilimo cha bustani. Wanasayansi wa Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) walichapisha karatasi ambayo ilichunguza ufanisi wa hedges kama vizuizi vya uchafuzi wa hewa na kugundua kwamba katika maeneo ya trafiki, cotoneaster ni angalau 20% bora katika kunyonya uchafuzi ikilinganishwa na vichaka vingine. Kulingana na utafiti wa hivi karibuni uliofanywa na RHS, uchafuzi wa hewa huathiri mtu mmoja kati ya watu watatu (asilimia 33) nchini Uingereza, na ubora mbaya wa hewa umetajwa kama hatari kubwa ya mazingira kwa afya ya umma ya Uingereza. "Tijana Blanza, kiongozi wa utafiti wa karatasi na mwanasayansi mkuu wa kilimo cha RHS, alisema: ""Katika barabara kuu za jiji zenye trafiki nyingi tumegundua kuwa spishi zenye canopies ngumu zaidi, nyembamba na nywele kama vile cotoneaster zilikuwa na ufanisi zaidi." """Kwa siku saba tu, ukanda wa mita moja wa ukanda wenye ukanda mzito unaosimamiwa vizuri utaondoa uchafuzi sawa na ule unaotokana na gari linaloendesha gari kwa umbali wa maili 500." "Tunakadiria Cotonester Franchetti inashikilia uzalishaji wa 20% zaidi kuliko hedges nyingine tulizojaribu, kwa hivyo itakuwa bora kando ya barabara zenye shughuli nyingi katika maeneo yenye uchafuzi wa hewa. """ "Kwa maeneo mengine ambapo kuhimiza utofauti wa kibiolojia na pollinators ni muhimu, mchanganyiko wa aina tofauti za hedges itakuwa ilipendekezwa. ""Katika miaka kumi iliyopita, wanasayansi wa RHS wameongeza utafiti wao ili kupata ufumbuzi wa kusaidia kupunguza masuala ya mazingira, kama vile uchafuzi wa hewa, mawimbi ya joto na mafuriko ya ndani, ili kuongeza athari nzuri ya bustani na maeneo ya kijani." "Mwanasayansi Alistair Griffiths, Mkurugenzi wa Sayansi na Mkusanyiko wa RHS, alisema: ""Sayansi ya RHS imeonyesha kwamba sifa za msingi za spishi fulani za mimea na aina, kama vile umbo la majani na sifa za mizizi, husaidia kupunguza masuala mengi ya mazingira." <unk>Tunaendelea kutambua <unk>mimea mpya ya juu<unk> na sifa za kipekee ambazo zinapochanganywa na mimea mingine hutoa faida zilizoimarishwa wakati wa kutoa makazi yanayohitajika sana kwa wanyama wa porini. <unk>Tumeona kwa mfano kwamba ivy ukuta-kufunika excels katika majengo baridi na hawthorn na privet kusaidia kupunguza mvua kali majira ya joto na kupunguza mafuriko ya mahali. "Ikiwa kupandwa katika bustani na nafasi za kijani ambapo masuala haya ya mazingira ni zaidi ya kuenea tunaweza kufanya tofauti kubwa katika kupunguza dhidi ya na kukabiliana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. """