PJB-2022-119
SPATIAL IMPACT OF STONE CRUSHERS DUST ON VEGETATION COVER
MUHAMMAD ASIM SULTAN
Abstract
Present study was conducted to explore the spatial impact of stone crushers dust on vegetation cover of Kirana Hills, Pakistan. Five sites were selected based on the distance from active stone crushers. Dust concentration was measured with the help of glass jars placed on all study sites for ten weeks. Highest dust concentration of 10071 (g/m2) was recorded at Site 3 which was located just 0.3 km away from active stone crushers, while lowest dust concentration of 1285 (g/m2) was measured at Site 1 which was located 4.5 km away from stone crushers. For measuring vegetation cover quadrat method was used. The data obtained from dust concentration and vegetation cover was subjected to Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). CCA plot showed that dust concentration was highly associated with Site 3 and Site 4. Eleven plants were directly associated with Site 1, two plants were associated with Site 2 which was located 2 km away from active stone crushers and two plants were associated with Site 5 which was located 1 km away from active stone crushers. No plant was found in direct association with Site 3 and also with Site 4 which was located just 0.5 km away from active stone crushers. However some plants were found at all sites which indicate the tolerance of vegetation to dust pollution. It is concluded that overall stone crushers dust has deleterious impact on vegetation cover. Such vegetation can be conserved by promoting dust tolerant plants species and by periodic showering.
To Cite this article:
Download
