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Seasonal variation in leaf morphological responses to dust pollution in Bhairahawa, western Nepal
Abstract
Green vegetation in residential and industrial zones offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approach in mitigating air pollution, making the selection of suitable plant species for green belt development highly important. This study evaluated 8 plant species across 4 contrasting land-use types within Siddharthanagar Municipality; industrial, roadside, residential, and garden areas during the winter (January) and monsoon (June) seasons of 2024. The effects of dust deposition on leaf morphology were assessed by comparing polluted sites with a less polluted garden site. Overall, dust accumulation was consistently higher in industrial and roadside areas than in residential and garden sites, with more pronounced effects during the dry winter season. Species with broad, rough, and hairy leaves, particularly Tectona grandis (L.f), showed higher dust retention, whereas smoother-leaved species accumulated comparatively less dust. Increased dust load was generally associated with reductions in leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA), indicating morphological adjustments under pollution stress. The most pronounced reductions were observed in highly exposed roadside and industrial environments, while species such as Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.), Ficus religiosa (L.), Psidium guajava (L.), and Saraca asoca (L.), exhibited comparatively smaller changes in leaf traits across seasons. These findings suggest that certain urban plant species possess greater tolerance to dust pollution and may be suitable candidates for green belt development and urban greening initiatives in the Terai region of Nepal
