Woody perennials as bio-monitors of air pollution around brick kilns in peri-urban ecosystem using pollution tolerance indices

Abstract ABSTRACT
This study highlights the phytomonitoring potential of some selected woody perennials in terms of their resilience against pollution stress from brick kilns. The effect of pollution stress on some biochemical, physiological, morphological, biological, laminar and socioeconomic traits has been evaluated for screening of suitable species. Results of our studies exhibited a range of average APTI at experimental site from 9.41± 2.15 (B. papyrifera) to 12.03± 2.07 (F. religiosa) that is higher for all species except F. virens in comparison with the same species at control site. Our findings revealed F. religiosa (APTI 12.03 ± 2.07) and M. indica (APTI 11.93 ± 1.98) as tolerant (T), E. citriodora (APTI 11.13 ± 2.35), F. benghalensis (APTI 11.81 ± 2.09) and S. cumini (APTI 11.25 ± 1.60) as moderately tolerant (MT), B. ceiba (APTI 10.98 ± 2.22), D. sissoo (APTI 10.28 ± 2.39), F. virens (APTI 10.65 ± 2.38) and M. alba (APTI 10.96 ± 2.34) as intermediate (I) and B. papyrifera (APTI 9.41 ± 2.15) as sensitive (S) species. Regression analysis indicated the more reliability of APTI on relative water content than other parameters. Two-way ANOVA results exhibited statistically significant interaction of species and sites on dependent variables. The API categorization of same species placed F. benghalensis and F. religiosa into ‘best’, M. indica under ‘very good’, B. ceiba, D. sissoo, E. citriodora, M. alba and S. cumini into ‘good’, F. virens under ‘moderate’ and B. papyrifera under ‘poor’ performer category. Evergreen woody perennials expressed a better tolerance level than deciduous tree species. The findings of this study provide a valuable practical information regarding the selection of more tolerant species for future plantation projects around brick kilns, urban and industrial spaces to cope with pollution load for restoration of a bio-sustainable air.