ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 08, Special Issue 04, March 2023 IMPACT FACTOR: 8.20 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 41 MORPHOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DETERMINATION OF GREEN-BELT EFFICIENCY
Dr. Archana More
Associate Professor Botany, S.N. Govt. P.G. College, Khandwa (M.P.)
Abstract - Developing areas i.e. areas in and around industrial/urban are being progressively denuded in an effort to meet increasing basic demands of the society.
Observations show that left to itself for long enough time, almost each of these areas would develop its own greenery. Since all the tree species cannot sustain the stress of urbanization. It is imperative selection of plant species for the purpose is a task that requires sound knowledge of plants and their response to environmental stresses. Such as dust and other air pollutants.
In the present study, the significance of gross morphological structures including tree size canopy structures and surface traits (including epidermal features) of individual leaf and its dust filtering potential has been investigated in several plant species.
The information gathered is utilized as a basis for formulating suggestions for planning urban avenues and green belts around the khandwa city.
1 INTRODUCTION
Pollution of air, water and soil by increasing industrialization and other developmental activity is a matter of serious environmental concern. Air pollution like other forms of environmental pollution, is directly related to fuel usage, increased industrialization, commercial activity and growing urban population. Air pollution is significant when it influences biological systems, either directly or indirectly.
According to an estimate, dust pollutants comprise around 40% of the total air pollution problem in India. A large number and a variety of industries emitting diverse pollutants in the air and auto exhaust is a common picture in urban areas.
An approach has been suggested in recent years to combat pollution. It aims at growing plants around industrial areas as a measure of intervation of dirty atmosphere by leafy crowns of plants. Capacity of plants to reduce air pollution is well known. To recheck the spread of air pollutants emitted from khandwa city.
Since all the tree species cannot sustain the stress of urbanization some are highly sensitivity and show immediate injury symptoms while others are hardy and more tolerant.
The characters of plants species that would serve the purpose of reduction of pollutants efficiency are needed to be looked into.
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
A large number of plant species is studied for morphological characters that have relevance to their dust capturing capacity. The species are selected from a large number of species commonly grown in these areas of the khandwa.
The site was Botanical garden In Khandwa City (India).
For experimental work, the following plant species were selected.
1. Acacia auriculiformis. A-Cunn 2. Azadirachta indica. A. Juss 3. Bauhinia purpurea. Linn.
4. Calotropis gigantea. (B.Br.) Linn.
5. Cassia fistula. Linn 6. Ficus bengalensis. Linn 7. Ficus glomerate Linn.
8. Mangifera indica. Linn 9. Nerium indicum. Mill 10. Syzigium cumini. Linn.
11. Terminalia bellerica. (Gaerth) Roxb
The sizes of trees were recorded. Stem diameters of trees at breast height were measured data were collected from twenty plants (shrubs/trees). The data at included species, diameter of the main trunk at breast height (dia at 1.37m or 4.5ft), total tree height
ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, ISSN NO. 2456-1037
Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE
Vol. 08, Special Issue 04, March 2023 IMPACT FACTOR: 8.20 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 42 crown shape, branching pattern, bark surface area, leaf area, leaf surface area, leaf orientation and leaf morphology.
The plants or their parts are exposed to dust fall simulated inside a specially fabricated chamber. The maximum dust deposition on leaves was calculated for determination of dust removal capacity of the plant. The maximum dust deposition is considered to be realized at that stage when, during continuous showing dust stars falling from the leaf instead of being collected on it.
For light microscopic studies, the leaf cuticles were separated mechanically by safety with razor blade or macerated with 30% HNO, stained with safranin and was prepared in 70% glycerine (Ahmad K.J.1974).
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The experimental study revealed a definite correlation between the plant canopy characters, morphological traits of leaves and the amount of dust captured on leaves.
Comparative study of dust capturing capacity of plants is important for the selection their efficiency to capture and retain the dust that falls on the laminar surface, an index has of useful plant species for green belts. For effective comparison between different species for been suggested in the present work. This is called as dust retention index or DRI.
This index is calculated on the basis between the dust retained by unit area of a leaf of a plant species and unit of greased plate.
The index is calculated as DRI A / B x 100 Where,
DRI = Dust retention index A = Dust retained by a leaf
B = Dust retained by same area of greased plate
In experimental studies the range of the DRI values was found to be from minimum 30 to maximum of 90. (Table 1.1) According to DRI values the twenty plant species were divided into three groups as. (Table 1.2)
1. Low DRI values - range between 30-50 2. Medium DRI values - range between 50-70 3. High DRI values - range between 70-90
The plants with high DRI values have following characteristics.
1) Evergreen -
These plants are evergreen. These characteristics make them dust catchers throughout the year.
2) Wide spread canopy-
These plants have wide spread canopy especially round in shape. This feature provides large leaf surface area dust catching.
3) Horizontally spreaded branching system
These plants have horizontally spreaded branching system which provides large bark surface area makes them efficient dust.
4) Pubscent texture of branches.
These plants have pubescent texture of branches which acts as trap for dust particles.
5) Rough bark having longitudinal and oblique furrows.
These plants have rough bark having longitudinal and oblique furrouws which increases their dust catching capacity.
Table 1.1 Dust retention index (DRI) of selected plant species in decensing order (Mean of 3).
S.No. Plant Species Duat Depoaltion on
plnte g/m1'A' Dust Depoaltion on
a leaf g/m2'B' Dust retentlon index DRI=(B/A)x100
1 Ficus benghalonsis 34.11 31.96 03.00
2 Manglera indica 32.25 28.81 89.32
3 Calotropis glgantoa 9.78 8.58 87.7
4 Terminalia bellerica 22.47 17.51 77.02
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Vol. 08, Special Issue 04, March 2023 IMPACT FACTOR: 8.20 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL) 43
5 Ficus glomerata 14.42 10.42 72.20
6 Syxygium cumini 18.56 12.31 66.32
7 Nerum indicum 10.33 6.75 65.34
8 Bauhinia purpuroa 19.37 10.86 55.76
9 Azadirachta indica 11.37 5.27 46.35
10 cassia fishtula 37.48 16.01 42.71
Table 1.2 Classification of Selected plant species according to DRI valuos.
Sr.No. High DRI values Mcdlum DRI values Low DRI valuos 1 Clotropis gigantea Bauhinia purpurea Acacla aurlculiformls 2 Ficus bengalensis Neroum indicum Azadirachta indlca 3 Ficus glomerata Syzygium cumini Cassia fistula 4 Mangifera indica
5 Terminalia bellerica 6) Horizontal orientation of leaves.
These plants have opposite and decussate arrangement of leaves with horizontal orientation which provides maximum leaf surface area for deposition of dust.
7) Leaves with thick and stiff petiole-
These plants have leaves with thick and stiff petiole keeping lamina almost horizontal enhancing their dust catching capacity.
8) Broad lamina -
The leaves of these plants have simple, broad lamina, which increases their surface area and make them potent dust catcher.
9) Lamina with undulating margins-
The leaves of these plants have lamina with undulating, margins which acts as effective trap.
10) Pubescent/fulvous/tomentose texture of leaves,
These plants have pubescent/fulvus/tomentose texture of leaves which is useful for interception of dust particles.
11) Lamina with distinct reticulate venation.
The leaves of these plants have lamina with distinct reticulate venation which is suitable for dust retention.
12) Abundance of long trichomes on lamina
The leaves of these plants have more number of long trichmes on lamina which increases their dust capturing capacity because of larger leaf surface.
Green belt as a back-up to technological pollution abatement measures could substantially reduce adverse environmental impact.
Models for developmental of roadside green belt for plantation and industrial plantation are presented as an outcome of the present work.
It is observed that an avenue with mixed type of plant species (having high DRI values) may have higher potential for removal of dust.
For an industry it is advisable to plant a green belt in all the directions around the source of pollution at a spacing calculated on the basis of the general recommendations for green belts.
The information generated from these studies, will be valuable for environmental management effort of industries which look for setting up of green belts on their premises of pollution abatement.
REFERENCES
1. Singh S.K and D.N Rao (1983) Evolution of plants for their tolerance to air pollution. In Proc. Symp. On Air Pollut. Control, Nov; 83, PP 218-224.
2. Chaphekar S.B (1989-97) Environmental Management at Thermal Power plant. Dahanu Report for 1989 - 1997 to BSES, Mumbai, India.
3. Ahmad K.J (1974)_Cuticular studies in some Nelsonioideae (Acanthaceae). Bot. J. Linn. Soc.68:73-80 4. Gupta V.K and R.K Kapoor (1985). Reducing the consequence of reactor accidents, with a green belt
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