Effect of Cement Dust Deposition on Physiological Behaviors of Some Selected Plant Species

Study was carried out to assess the impact of cement dust on some selected plant species around industrial area. Deposition effect of cement dust on pigmentation was studied in Azadirachta indica, Pongamia pinnata, Delonix regia, Polyalthia longifolia and Ficus religiosa. Sampling was done about 500 meter distance difference from the cement industry and measurements were taken for all the plant species spectrophotometrically. All the measured pigments were reduced in dust-exposed plant species compared with control site. This is due to deceleration of the biosynthetic processes rather than degradation of pigments. Changes in chlorophyll and carotenoid content were investigated in selected plant species exposed to alkaline dust emitted by the cement industry. The rate of mortality of young branches was high in the area subjected to the cement dust in all the selected plant species whereas Pongamia pinnata and Azadirachta indica are the most sensitive among them. Unless Polyalthia longifolia and Ficus religiosa is noted that amount of chl a, b and carotenoids in all investigated plants that are far away from cement dust more than that near from the factory. In general, pollution by the cement dust has caused adverse effects on the photosynthetic pigments and the pH of the leaf extract.