EGU2020-922, updated on 09 Jan 2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-922
EGU General Assembly 2020
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Polyalthia longifolia (False Ashoka) is an ideal choice for better air quality at kerbside locations

Vidit Parkar, Savita Datta, Haseeb Hakkim, Ashish Kumar, Muhammed Shabin, Vinayak Sinha, and Baerbel Sinha
Vidit Parkar et al.
  • Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, S. A. S. Nagar, Manauli PO, India

Tropospheric ozone is a major pollutant and it is harmful for humans at sustained exposures of 40 ppb or more in ambient air. In this study we calibrate the deposition of ozone for stomatal exchange (DO3SE) model for Polyalthia longifolia (False Ashoka), a tree that accounts for 5-20% of the urban plantations in Indian cities and subsequently use the model to estimate not only the stomatal O3 uptake by this tree but also its capability to sequester other criteria air pollutants. We discuss the impact of planting this tree on ozone precursors NOx and VOCs in a roadside plantation scenario for mitigating air pollution.

Stomatal conductance of Polyalthia longifolia was measured, using a SC-1 Leaf Porometer, at IISER Mohali-Punjab in the NW-IGP (Northwest Indo-Gangetic Plane) which has a sub-tropical dry climate. Stomatal conductance was measured during all the four (Summer, Monsoon, Post-Monsoon, Winter) seasons, while BVOC emission fluxes were quantified using a dynamic plant cuvette during post monsoon, winter and summer season. We use ambient mixing ratios of ozone, NO, NO2, SO2 and O3 in combination with the meteorological parameters such as temperature, RH, soil moisture and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) from the IISER Mohali Atmospheric chemistry facility to quantify Polyalthia longifolia roadside plantations’ impact on urban air quality through stomatal uptake of air pollutants (primarily NO, NO2 and O3) and BVOC emissions. Polyalthia longifolia displays a number of very interesting characteristics that include being a low isoprene and monoterpene emitter, having an extremely high leaf area index thanks to its height, straight shape and dense canopy. It displays extreme resistance to drought and high vapour pressure deficits in summer allowing stomatal uptake of pollutants and evaporative cooling to continue even under unfavourable meteorological conditions.

How to cite: Parkar, V., Datta, S., Hakkim, H., Kumar, A., Shabin, M., Sinha, V., and Sinha, B.: Polyalthia longifolia (False Ashoka) is an ideal choice for better air quality at kerbside locations, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-922, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-922, 2020.

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