ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Estimating Anticipated Performance Index
and Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Some Trees
and Ornamental Plant Species for
the Construction of Green Belts
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1
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
2
Department of Microbiology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
3
Department of Geography, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
4
Department of Chemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
5
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
6
School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
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Plant Biomass Utilization Research Unit, Department of Botany, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Submission date: 2017-06-20
Final revision date: 2017-08-25
Acceptance date: 2018-03-27
Online publication date: 2018-12-11
Publication date: 2019-02-18
Corresponding author
Imran Ali
Plant Biomass Utilization Research Unit, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phaya Thai road, 10330 Bangkok, Thailand
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(3):1759-1769
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ABSTRACT
This study combines air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API)
in order to determine the potential of trees and ornamental shrubs that are frequently growing on the
roads of Quetta, Pakistan, and the campus of the University of Balochistan, in Quetta, for green belt
development. Our investigation exposed that not only APTI is suitable for the fitness of trees for building
green belts. It is used to categorize vulnerable plant species for only bio-monitoring. The grouping
of APTI and API in the present study is a practical technique for decreasing air pollution control.
Laboratory analysis for APTI was carry out by the four physico-biological factors such as leaf extract
pH, total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, and relative water content. API for different plant
species (trees and ornamental shrubs) was determined depending upon the characteristic grading by
allotted + or – to the plants. The standard for determining API is given in Table 2. For examining the
relationships among these factors statistics were utilized. This study indicated that the APTI is used
as an instrument for choosing suitable plants to reduce environmental urban heat. API designated
that Morus alba L., Pinus halepensis Miller, Ficus carica L., and Pistacia vera L. with API = 6 are
excellent performers for green belt development. Morus nigra L. and Malus pumila Miller had API 5
and are considered very good performers, and Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl., Prunus armeniaca L.,
and Platycladus orientalis L. showed 4 API values with good performance for green belt formation.
All the other remaining investigated trees and ornamental shrubs demonstrated poor values of API
and are not recommended for green belts as they act as bio-indicators. Data also exhibited that all
the examined trees had higher API values then the ornamental shrubs. This study suggested that the
integration of both APTI and API of plants is extremely beneficial for the construction of green belts.