Air pollution tolerance index of various plant species around Nanded city, Maharashtra, India.
Yannawar V. B., Bhosle A. B.
Author Affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Vishnupuri, Nanded - 431 606, Maharashtra, India.
Journal of Applied Phytotechnology in Environmental Sanitation 3 : 23-28
Abstract : Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) was calculated for various roadside plant species around Nanded city. Studies were carried out to determine the physiological response of plant species Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Polyalthialongifolia, Ficus religiosa, Ficus bengalensis, Ficus glomerata, Moringa oleifera, Phyllanthusembilca, Euginia jambolana, Eucalyptus, Delonixregia, Acacia nilotica, Leucaenaleucocephala, Dalbergia sissoo and Tamarindus indica in Nanded city. The objective was to identify the air pollution tolerance plant species. The leaf samples collected from these plant species were used to determine their APTI by calculating the ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, pH, and relative water contents for sites. Response of plants towards air pollution was assessed by APTI. On the basis of APTI Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, Euginia jambolana and Tamarindus indica were tolerant while, Mangifera indica, Polyalthialongifolia, Ficus bengalensis, Delonixregia, Acacia nilotica, Leucaenaleucocephala and Dalbergia sissoo plants were intermediate plant. The plant species Ficus religiosa, Ficus glomerata, Phyllanthusembilca and Eucalyptus were sensitive. The APTI determination provides a reliable method for screening sensitive tolerant plants under field conditions where the air-shed is contaminated by a variety of pollutants. The susceptibility level of plants to air pollutions as indicated through their index values, compared well with the responses of plants observed under laboratory and field experiments.