Effects of roadside dust pollution on fruit trees of miyyaghundi (Quetta) and ghanjdori (mastung), Pakistan

Abstract

The research was conducted to evaluate the effects of road side dust pollution on fruit trees of Miyyaghundi (Quetta) and Ghanjdori (Mastung), Pakistan. The data were collected from the two orchards near the road where the road construction was in process. The effect of road side dust was observed on the leaves of trees growing at the edges of orchards as compare to those trees growing in the center of orchards. The highest percentage of dust was observed on the leaves of Pyrus malus L. (apple) which was (1.05 g) grown at the edges of an orchard compared to those leaves growing in the center of an orchard. The lowest dust (0.08 g) was observed on the leaves of Prunus domestica L. (plum) that were away from the road. Closure of stomata was observed highly affecting the trees grown at the edges of orchards compared to the central ones. The highest mean for closed stomata was (419.3) recorded in P. malus, grown at the edges of an orchard and the lowest mean (75) was recorded in P. domestica. The fruit production was also observed, the highest mean was recorded in Apple (pyrus malus L.) before road construction in central trees of Miyyaghundi which was (200 kg). The lowest mean for fruit production was recorded in Apple (pyrus malus L.) trees grown at the edges of an orchard that was (15 kg).