AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX OF SOME FODDER PLANT SPECIES AROUND SONAPUR CEMENT FACTORY IN DANG, WESTERN NEPAL
Date
2024-01-28
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Publisher
Amrit Campus
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.
Description
Keywords
Ascorbic acid,, total leaf chlorophyll content, leaf extract pH, specific leaf area, relative water content