AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX OF SOME FODDER PLANT SPECIES AROUND SONAPUR CEMENT FACTORY IN DANG, WESTERN NEPAL

Abstract

The study aims to find out the air pollution tolerant index of some fodder plant species around the Sonapur cement factory in Dang, Nepal. Commonly available and dominant five fodder plant species (Melia azedarach, Leucaena leucocephala, Garuga pinnata, Dalbergia sissoo, Bambusa nutans) were selected from three different distances i.e. (0-300) m, (300- 600) m, (600-1000) m at four directions (east, west, north and south). Matured leaf samples were collected for the biochemical studies of air pollution tolerance index (APTI). The APTI values of different plant leaves were calculated considering the biochemical parameters like relative water content (RWC), total leaf chlorophyll content (TChl), leaf extract pH and ascorbic acid (AA). Additionally, specific leaf area (SLA) was also measured. The correlation of SLA with APTI and different biochemical parameters were also calculated. The highest APTI value of the studied plants ranged from twelve to sixteen, indicating their moderate tolerance to air pollution. The APTI values of fodder plants increased significantly (p=0.05) at the distance near the factory at (0-300) m. Among them the highest APTI was found in L. leucocephala and was followed by G. pinnata in the east direction, M. azedarach in north direction, D. sissoo in south direction and B. nutans in west direction. The value of SLA, total chlorophyll content and pH decreased whereas relative water content and ascorbic acid increased near the cement factory in most of studied plants. SLA of studied plants showed significantly negative correlation (p<0.05) with APTI. This study recommends plants like L. leucocephala, G. pinnata, Melia azedarach, D. sissoo, B. nutans, which scored high APTI value at different directions, for further plantation around the cement factory.