Tejpal Yadav
Botany
March 2025
The rapid expansion of road networks and rising vehicular traffic have tremendously added to air pollution, especially along state highways, where emissions from vehicles pose severe environmental and ecological issues. This research estimates the effect of automobile emissions on crop plants grown along state highways in Rewari, South Haryana, in terms of their ecotoxicological impacts. The work analyzes the levels of major vehicle emissions like particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and zinc) in soil and ambient air. By performing field sampling followed by laboratory studies, the impact of the chemical contaminants on physiology and biochemistry of typical farm crops, expressed as changes in chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, oxidative markers, and plant growth parameters, is assessed. In addition, the concentration of contamination in soils is measured to assess the degree of heavy metal deposition and its possible effect on plant health and agricultural output. The results indicate a relationship between distance from highways and higher concentrations of pollutants, resulting in decreased photosynthetic efficiency, growth inhibition, and possible yield loss. This research highlights the imperative of sustainable pollution abatement practices, green belt planning strategies, and policy actions to counteract the negative impacts of emissions from vehicles on agroecosystems and promote environmental sustainability in fast-track urbanizing areas.
428- 439
© Airo Journals 2021
