Leaf Dust Deposition and its Impact on Biochemical Aspect of Some Plant Species Growing along Roadside of Urban Area

IJEP 43(6): 493-502 : Vol. 43 Issue. 6 (June 2023)

A. Devkota*, S. D. Shrestha and P.K. Jha

Tribhuvan University, Central Department of Botany, Kirtipur 44618, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

The present study was carried out to study the dust interception efficiency of the plant species growing along roadside of urban area. The impact of dust deposition on selected plants and its correlation with various biochemical aspects of leaves, such as ascorbic acid, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll and relative water content was also studied. Biochemical characters, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll content and relative water content exhibited negative correlation with dust load while ascorbic acid content exhibited strong positive correlation with dust load. The dust accumulation pattern in various species was in the order : Bougainvillea glabra>Callistemon citrinus>Nerium oleander>Lagerstroemia indica>Jasminum mesnyi>Euphorbia pulcherrima. The highest amount of leaf dust (0.044 mg/cm2) was recorded in Bougainvillea glabra whereas, the lowest dust load of 0.009 mg/cm2  which was recorded in Euphorbia pulcherrima. Thus plants can be used in the reduction of dust pollution in urban areas and act as natural filter.

Keywords

Plant species, Natural filter, Sink of air pollutant, Urban area

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