Growth of wheat plants exposed to cement dust pollution
1980
Singh, S.N. | Rao, D.N. (Banaras Hindu Univ., Varanasi (India). Dept. of Botany)
Cement dust in the environment poses a threat to the proper functioning of plants in the vicinity of cement factories, as apparent from a field study conducted at different locations in the environs of Churk Cement Factory in Mirzapur District, U.P. Plant samples were collected at 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 4000 m northeast of the factory, at three successive stages of plant growth. The plant samples collected at 4000 m distance were treated as control, as there was no apparent deposition of cement dust on their surface. The samples were analyzed with respect to foliar injury symptoms, chlorophyll concentration and phytomass accumulation. Only plants closest to the factory displayed symptoms of foliar injury. The results reveal that wheat plants at polluted sites contained decreased concentration of chlorophyll in their leaves and had reduced accumulation of phytomass, as compared to control. The grains obtained from affected sites showed quantitative and qualitative deterioration. Physico-chemical properties of the soils at polluted sites also underwent some undesirable changes. These effects had negative correlation with the distance from the factory.
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