Quantifying the Potential Contribution of Urban Forest to PM2.5 Removal in the City of Shanghai, China

Climate change and air pollution pose multiple health threats to humans through complex and interacting pathways, whereas urban vegetation can improve air quality by influencing pollutant deposition and dispersion. This study estimated the amount of PM2.5 removal by the urban forest in the city of Shanghai by using remote sensing data of vegetation and a model approach. We also identified its potential contribution of urban forest presence in relation to human population and particulate matter concentration. Results show that the urban forest in Shanghai reached 46,161 ha in 2017, and could capture 874 t of PM2.5 with an average of 18.94 kg/ha. There are significant spatial heterogeneities in the role of different forest communities and administrative districts in removing PM2.5. Although PM2.5 removal was relatively harmonized with the human population distribution in terms of space, approximately 57.41% of the urban forest presented low coupling between removal capacity and PM2.5 concentration. Therefore, we propose to plant more trees with high removal capacity of PM2.5 in the western areas of Shanghai, and increase vertical planting in bridge pillars and building walls to compensate the insufficient amount of urban forest in the center area.

The Growth of Seriatopora hystrix (Dana, 1846) Transplant with Differences of Fragments Size and Planting Position

Transplantation of coral reefs requires sufficient fragments but must still ensure the sustainability of coral donors. This research aimed to know the survival rate and growth rate of transplant corals with different fragment sizes and planting positions and to determine the most effective and efficient transplantation methods of the Seriatopora hystrix. The research was conducted from January to April 2016 in Serangan Island waters Denpasar Bali (1-2 m depth). The method used was a field experiment with variations of planting position (vertical, horizontal) and fragment sizes (3, 5, 7 cm). The results showed a high survival rate (98.3%) of the transplanted S. hystrix with planting position and fragment sizes variation. The variation of planting position and fragment sizes were significantly affected the length growth rate of the S. hystrix (p <0.05). The vertical planting position showed better growth compared to the horizontal planting position. The transplantation of coral with initial fragment sizes of 5 and 7 cm showed a higher growth rate than the fragment size of 3 cm. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between initial fragment sizes of 5 and 7 cm. Therefore, this study demonstrated the most effective and efficient for S. hystrix transplantation showed in the vertical position with the initial fragment size of 5 cm.Key words: coral bleaching, initial fragment, tropical, zooxanthellae

Performance of Planting Methods and Sett Treatments on Quality, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Bajra Napier Hybrid Grass (Pennisetum glaucum L. X P. purpureum schumach)

A field experiment to assess the effect of planting methods and sett treatments on quality, nutrient uptake and economics of bajra napier hybrid grass CO (BN) 5 was conducted during 2018-2019 at the Eastern block farm of the Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University – Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The experimental field was laid out in factorial randomized block design. The main plots were vertical planting (M1) and horizontal planting (M2) and sub-plots were 13 sett treatments. The results on some quality parameters viz., crude protein, crude fibre, crude fat, total ash contents (%), showed non-significant difference on planting methods, sett treatments and their interaction. Among planting methods, vertical planting had registered higher crude protein yield of 1.23 t ha-1cut-1, nitrogen uptake (151 kg ha-1cut-1), phosphorus uptake (23.4 kg ha-1cut-1) and potassium uptake (87.7 kg ha-1cut-1). Among sett treatments, water soaking for 12 hours and 24 hours incubation (S1) significantly registered higher crude protein yield (1.78 t ha-1cut-1), nitrogen uptake (186.8 kg ha-1cut-1), phosphorus uptake (31.9 kg ha-1cut-1) and potassium uptake (108.4 kg ha-1cut-1). In two planting methods, low cost of cultivation ($ 629 ha-1), higher gross return ($ 1227 ha-1), net return ($ 598 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.98) were registered with vertical planting (M1). Similarly, among sett treatments, water soaking for 12 hours and 24 hours incubation (S1) recorded lower cost of cultivation ($ 563 ha-1), higher gross return ($ 1698 ha-1), net return ($ 1135 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.02). With this, it can be concluded that for planting method, vertical planting (M1), and for sett treatment, water soaking for 12 hours and 24 hours incubation (S1) are the recommended practices for achieving better quality, nutrient uptake and economics from bajra napier hybrid grass.

Plant Characteristics for Green Wall Systems

This research is a preliminary study of planting ornamental plants with a green wall system. This study aims to provide an overview and information about the selection of types of plants that are suitable and commonly used in making green walls and arranging selected plants in green walls system. Green wall system which is often called vertical garden is a technique to plant ornamental plants, vegetables or other types of plants with a free design that considers various resources that allow plants to grow vertically. The advantages of green walls are efficient use of soil, beautifying the environment, adding location value, cleaning the air, lowering temperature, producing oxygen and providing fresh food that is close to the surrounding environment at home. Not all types of plants can be planted vertically. Easy-to-grow plants, short appearance and slow growth are common characteristics used for green walls. The special characters of the selected plants are determined based on the group of indoor or outdoor plants. Consideration of nutritional, light, water and plant requirements will determine the success of planting and the sustainability of vertical planting.

Peningkatan Potensi Anggota KWT dalam Pemanfaatan Pekarangan untuk Tanaman Obat dan Kosmetika Menggunakan Metode Tanam Vertikal di Desa Cibiru Wetan, Kabupaten Bandung

POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF WOMAN FARMING GROUP IN THE UTILIZATION OF THE YARD FOR DRUG AND COSMETICS PLANTS USING VERTICAL GARDEN METHOD IN CIBIRU WETAN VILLAGE, BANDUNG REGENCY. The village of Cibiru Wetan is largely a rice field and swidden area with hilly contours and insufficient water availability. One of the utilization of fields with a lack of water is by growing plants that require minimal water, including medicinal plants and cosmetics. The initiation of this activity has a high prospect of success due to the high initiative and participation of the population in the form of women's farmer groups and the family welfare team as evidenced by the many achievements, awards, and skills gained by the Cibiru Wetan Village through the participation of its citizens. Therefore, the purpose of the project activity was socialization and practice at women’s farmer group of Cibiru Wetan Village through the use of medicinal plants and cosmetics with simple appropriate technology through vertical gardening. The method of implementation used in the training program for planting medicinal plants was divided two stage, that was providing information about family medicinal plants ranging from understanding to the benefits of the plants, and the last step was explaining or training and direct practice of planting medicinal plants and cosmetics using vertical planting. The results showed a positive understanding of the two groups of women’s farmer group I and II and the family welfare team, both for the stage of socialization and counseling as well as for the practice phase of planting medicinal plants and cosmetics vertically. The conclusion was the use of medicinal plants and cosmetics could increase the understanding of the target group and the compost produced by residents could be utilized through this activity.

Vertical Planting Structure Design for Planter

In view of many garlic drills without vertical planting structure so far, garlic clove cannot be vertical planted. A new design of vertical planting structure is proposed. The gripper for fixing garlic clove is designed. Moreover, the accurate cooperation is realized both transfer and vertical planting for garlic clove. Garlic clove is vertically inserted into the appropriate depth soil using the proposed machine. The structure of the proposed device is simple. It is convenient also to operate the device. The whole design of device is clever and cooperate appropriately. It can automatically operate from garlic clove fixing and transferring to garlic clove upright planting into appropriate depth soil. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed device is proved by lots of experiments. The result shown that the proposed device greatly improve plant efficiency, greatly improve the garlic budding rate, and effectively prevent the phenomenon of abnormal buds.

Application of Vertical Planting Technology in Green Building

In the Green Building assessment system, vertical planting technology and criterion problems are neglected. This paper compared with the existing standards, and summarized the key technology in the actual project, pointing out that projects should be classified, both in different structure conditions and the use of various materials. Maintenance management scores of vertical planting in Green Building evaluation should be strengthened. This method exceeds traditional standard, and focus more on technology and the management of vertical planting in Green Building.