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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The investigation was carried out during the year 2017-2018 to study the air pollution tolerance index and anticipated performance index of three tree species growing alongside three selected roads in the sub-temperate condition of Himachal Pradesh. The selected tree species were Toona ciliata, Ficus palmata and Grewia optiva. In the selected species chlorophyll content and leaf abstract pH varies from 1.28-2.04 mg g-1 and 5.69-6.38, respectively which increased with increasing distance from the highways. Whereas, relative water content and ascorbic acid decreased with increasing distance from the road with respective values of 72.12-63.86 per cent and 2.86-1.87 mg g-1. The trend of APTI of the selected plant species was Toona ciliata (9.98) > Ficus palmata (8.53) > Grewia optiva (6.93). The highest APTI was noticed in post monsoon months followed by pre monsoon months. The assessment of the API with respect to the selected plant species was observed to lie in the range poor to very good. Hence, Toona ciliata with higher tolerance and anticipated performance index can be suggested for plantation alongside the State Highways so as to intercept the air pollutants which act as health hazards to the people of the region.