Research Overview

A recent study has revealed that air pollution is impacting the chemical composition of roadside trees in Delhi, which in turn affects their food production and water retention capabilities. The research focused on seven tree species across four distinct locations in the city, comparing highly polluted areas such as Anand Vihar and NTPC Badarpur with relatively cleaner regions like Lutyens’ Delhi and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa. The aim was to evaluate how varying pollution levels and seasonal changes influenced the trees’ physiological characteristics.

Findings on Chlorophyll and Water Content

One of the most significant findings of the study is the variation in chlorophyll content, the pigment crucial for photosynthesis. The lowest chlorophyll concentration was observed in leaves from Anand Vihar, measuring 1.06 mg per gram of fresh leaf weight. In contrast, Pusa exhibited the highest concentration at 3.31 mg per gram. The chlorophyll content at NTPC Badarpur was recorded at 1.14 mg per gram, while Lutyens’ Delhi showed a value of 3.11 mg per gram.

Additionally, the study assessed the relative water content of the leaves, an essential factor for their biological functions. The highest water retention was found in leaves from Pusa, at 88.78 per cent, followed closely by Lutyens’ Delhi at 88.16 per cent. Anand Vihar and NTPC Badarpur recorded lower values of 85.96 per cent and 86.70 per cent, respectively.

The research also highlighted variations in biochemical components among the different locations. Ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that helps mitigate oxidative stress in plants, was found to be most abundant in leaves from Lutyens’ Delhi at 5.07 mg, followed by 4.93 mg in Pusa. In contrast, Anand Vihar and NTPC Badarpur recorded lower levels at 4.33 mg and 4.49 mg, respectively.

Impact on Leaf pH and Air Pollution Tolerance Index

The study further examined leaf pH levels, which varied across locations. Anand Vihar and NTPC Badarpur had pH values of 5.78 and 5.91, respectively, whereas Lutyens’ Delhi and Pusa recorded higher values of 6.45 and 6.05. The researchers noted that lower pH values may indicate a plant’s sensitivity to air pollution, as observed in previous studies.

To evaluate the trees’ resilience to air pollution, the researchers calculated the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (TI) using chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid levels, leaf pH, and relative water content. Among the seven species studied, neem achieved the highest TI score of 14.52, followed by amaltas at 13.50 and false ashoka at 13.37. Arjun scored 13.13, while Peepal and Ficus infectoria recorded scores of 12.27 and 12.39, respectively. Alstonia scholaris, known as the devil tree, had the lowest TI score of 9.82, indicating its higher sensitivity to pollution.

The average TI scores were notably higher in the less polluted areas, with Lutyens’ Delhi at 13.50 and Pusa at 13.47, compared to 11.87 at Anand Vihar and 12.01 at NTPC Badarpur.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The researchers concluded that the location, air pollution levels, and seasonal variations significantly influence the Air Pollution Tolerance Index and the biochemical properties of trees. They identified neem, amaltas, and false ashoka as species with greater pollution tolerance, suggesting that these trees could be suitable for greenbelt development in industrial and high-traffic areas. The study was conducted by researchers from the Amity Food and Agriculture Foundation at Amity University, Noida, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, and was published in BIO Web of Conferences.

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