Effect of deposition of dust particles on leaves of crop plants on screening of solar illumination and associated physiological processes.
Das T. M.
Author Affiliation: Life Science Centre & College of Agriculture, Calcutta University, India.
Environmental Pollution 53 : 421-422
Abstract : Dust particles collected from fig leaf surfaces were deposited on thin glass at 0.05-9.0 mg/cm²; dust at 5 mg/cm² reduced light transmission by 75%, but 100% reduction was not achieved. Mango and fig trees often accumulated dust deposits from the air equivalent to 8 mg/cm² during the dry season. Net assimilation and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of dust-coated Gardenia and Coccinia leaves were lower than those of clean leaves. Auricular hairs at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath of graminaceous crop plants were active in absorbing chemicals from deposited dust, and 60-70% of the dust comprised soil particles containing the usual soil nutrients. Rice grown in distilled water survived when exposed to atmospheric dust and rainfall.