Leaf dust accumulation and its heavy metal status in selected plant species growing alongside the road in sub-temperate condition of Himachal Pradesh during different season

Abstract

This study reports dust fall deposition on foliar surfaces of plant species i.e., Toona ciliata, Ficus palmata and Grewia optiva. In relation with its impact on biochemical constituents and surfaces morphology of the foliar. Order of selected plant species according to the dust accumulation was Toona ciliata (31.17 mg m-2) > Ficus palmata (19.00 mg m-2) > Grewia optiva (11.50 mg m-2). The concentration of heavy metals namely cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc in the leaf dust was in the range of 0.015 to 0.016, 0.018 to 0.023, 8.747 to 10.093, 0.031 to 0.035 and 0.780 to 0.862 mg g-1, respectively. The heavy metals content decreased with increasing distance from the edge of the selected state highways. The leaf dust contained higher concentration of all the heavy metals during post monsoon as compared to the pre monsoon months. However, Toona ciliata have shown its adaptability to the stress caused by the pollution.