ABSTRACT

Air pollution is a global problem being faced by both developed nations and developing ones. It has been aggravated as a result of the growing human population and industrialization. Hence a

comparative study of vehicular pollution in some selected roadside plants was assessed. Panicum maximum L., Alternanthera brasiliana and Laportea aestuans along road side in three different locations were investigated and parameters such as chlorophyll content, leaf surface area and stem girth were recorded. The results shows that the mean leaf area of P. maximum ranged from 70.21 ± 4.61 - 105 ± 22.30, Alternanthera brasiliana (14.36 ± 0.89 - 26.6 ± 1.33), Laportea aestuans (41.60 ± 2.00 - 69.20 ± 4.11). The mean chlorophyll content of Panicum maximum ranged from 20.03 ± 8.27 - 38.93 ±1.34, Alternanthera brasiliana (22.40 ± 1.57 - 36.65 ± 1.51), Laportea aestuans (17.61 ± 4.04 - 32.09 ± 3.83). The mean stem girth of Panicum maximum ranged from 1.17 ± 0.02 - 1.38 ± 0.05, Alternanthera brasiliana (0.08 ± 0.60 - 1.23 ± 0.04), Laportea aestuans (1.12 ± 0.25 - 1.47 ± 1.13) respectively. The present study reveals that chlorophyll content, leaf area and stem girth of roadside plants was highly affected by toxic chemical substances present in the air. Hence further studies should be carried out to determine the chemical pollutants present in roadside environment.