Effect of air pollution on peri-urban agriculture: a case study.
Peri-urban agriculture is vital for the urban populations of many developing countries. Increases in both industrialization and urbanization, and associated air pollution threaten urban food production and its quality. Six hour mean concentrations were monitored for SO(2), NO(2) and O(3) and plant responses were measured in terms of physiological characteristics, pigment, biomass and yield. Parameter reductions in mung bean (Vigna radiata), palak (Beta vulgaris), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and mustard (Brassica compestris) grown within the urban fringes of Varanasi, India correlated directly with the gaseous pollutants levels. The magnitude of response involved all three gaseous pollutants at peri-urban sites; O(3) had more influence at a rural site. The study concluded that air pollution in Varanasi could negatively influence crop yield.
Agrawal
M
M
Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India . madhoo@bhu.ac.in
Singh
B
B
Rajput
M
M
Marshall
F
F
Bell
J N B
JN
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D027461:Beta vulgaris; D018533:Biomass; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007887:Fabaceae; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D014908:Triticum; D014507:Urbanization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D010126:Ozone; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide