Assessing the impact of air pollution on trees and crops in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of India.

Air pollution is one of the environmental concerns which is a threat to the health of our plants and animals. Little knowledge exists in the literature about its impact on trees and crops. The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of air pollutants on the biochemical parameters of 19 tree and crop species from five different locations in Patna, Bihar, India. Air pollution tolerance index value showed that Ficus religiosa, Zea mays, Carthamus tinctorius and Cajanus cajan were more tolerant compared to the other crops. Anticipated performance index value showed that trees like F. religiosa, Azadirachta indica and Mangifera indica and crops like C. cajan, Z. mays and Triticum aestivum were most suitable under air pollution condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]