Emission Characteristics of BVOCs from Native Plants in China: Species Selection for Minimising Ozone Generation in Urban Greening

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) can significantly drive atmospheric ozone (O3) production and directly or indirectly influence global climate change. In order to reveal the emission characteristics of BVOCs from native plants and to minimise the O3 generation from urban greening, this study synthesised the results of the observation studies of BVOCs emissions from different native plants, applied the maximum incremental reactivity method to estimate the ozone formation potential (OFP) of BVOCs emitted by each plant, and applied the statistical method to screen the plants with the lowest OFP to guide the plant allocation for urban greening. The results showed that deciduous broadleaf trees were the main biogenic sources of isoprene emissions, while evergreen coniferous trees were the main biogenic sources of monoterpene emissions; and there were differences in the emission characteristics of BVOCs of plants of the same family in different genera and the same genus in different species. In urban greening in North China, it is recommended that priority be given to plants of the Oleaceae, Ulmaceae and Cupressaceae; in East China, it is recommended to plants of the Celastraceae and Cupressaceae; in South China, it is recommended to Theaceae, Lauraceae and Fabaceae; in Southwest China, it is recommended to plants of the Oleaceae and Ginkgoaceae; in Northeast China, it is recommended to plants of the Betulaceae and Pinaceae; and in urban greening in Northwest China, it is recommended to plants of the Oleaceae and Pinaceae families.