ASSESSMENT OF AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX OF CERTAIN PLANTS GROWN ALONGSIDE PARWANOO- SOLAN NATIONAL HIGHWAY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2012
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Assessment of air pollution tolerance index of certain
plants grown alongside Parwanoo-Solan National Highway of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted
during 2011-2012 on Parwanoo to Solan National Highway falling in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.
The Four species namely Grewia optiva, Toona ciliata, Melia azedarach and Woodfordia floribunda of
uniform size, age, spread and common in occurrence on both sides of the highway were selected for the
study. Dust accumulation and biochemical parameters (pH of leaf extract, relative water content,
ascorbic acid content and chlorophyll content) of leaves of selected plants was estimated during three
main seasons (Rainy, Winter and Summer) of the year. Air pollution tolerance Index (APTI) of selected
species was worked out. The heavy metal concentration on deposited dust was also determined. Samples
were collected from two horizontal distances (0-5 m and 5-10 m) on the both sides of road during study.
In total there were 24 treatment combinations which were replicated six times in Randomised Block
Design (Factorial). The dust accumulation on the leaves ranged from 0.0083 g m-2 in T. ciliata to 0.0597
g m-2 in G. optiva which followed the order of G. optiva > W. floribunda > M. azedarach > T. ciliata.
Irrespective of species, season wise trend of species was winter > summer > rainy season. Plants grown
at a distance of 0-5 m accumulated higher dust on their leaves as compared to 5-10 m distance from the
road. The highest pH was recorded in M. azedarach (7.66) and lowest in W. floribunda (5.85) and the pH
was maximum in rainy followed by winter and summer season. Leaf relative water content was
maximum in M. azedarach (59.34 %) and minimum in T. ciliata (49.76 %) and season wise, it was
highest in rainy followed by winter and summer season. The highest ascorbic acid content was recorded
in M. azedarach (8.40 mg g-1) and lowest in T. ciliata (2.13 mg g-1). Ascorbic acid content was recorded
maximum in winter followed by summer and rainy seasons. Highest chlorophyll content was found in M.
azedarach (7.18 mg g-1) and lowest in T. ciliata (2.18 mg g-1) and was recorded highest in rainy followed
by winter and summer season. The APTI was found maximum in M. azedarach (18.37) and minimum in
T. ciliata (6.82). The APTI also varied with seasons of the year. The highest APTI was noticed in rainy
followed by winter and summer season. The trend of APTI recorded for various species was M. azedarch
> G. optiva > W. floribunda > T. ciliata. The present study indicated M. azedarach as most tolerant and
T. ciliata as most sensitive species to air pollution. The dust accumulated on leaves had heavy metals, Cu
(29.14 mg kg-1) and Zn (1219.91 mg kg-1) above permissible limit of the soil