Screening of Plant Species Response and Performance for Green Belt Development: Implications for Semi-Urban Ecosystem Restoration

Abstract

Screened plant species with potential for green belt development can act as eco-sustainable tools for restoring the polluted ecosystem. Eight plant species from two study locations in Ado-Odo, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, were examined to identify their air pollution response and performance by deploying two air pollution indices, namely air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API). APTI results identified all screened plants as sensitive species suitable as bio-indicators of air pollution, with Ficus auriculata (2.42) common to the non-industrial location being the most sensitive. API scores categorized Ficus auriculata (56.25%) as a moderate performer, while Syzygium malaccense (75%) and Mangifera indica (75%) were identified as very good performers, suitable for green belt development. The relationship between each biochemical parameter with APTI was investigated using regression analysis and two-way analysis of variance. The model result showed a significant relationship between each biochemical parameter with APTI, and relative water content had the highest influence on APTI (R2 = 0.99436). Both indices (APTI and API) are suitable for screening and recommending native plant species for cultivation in the polluted environment, thus promoting ecological restoration. Hence, Syzygium malaccense, Mangifera indica and Ficus auriculata, respectively, were recommended for green belts design. Further intensive screening to identify tolerant species and best to excellent performer’s trees suitable for restoring the ecosystem is advised.

A biochemical and morphological study with multiple linear regression modeling–based impact prediction of ambient air pollutants on some native tree species of Haldwani City of Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

“…Although, it was also observed that as air pollution rises, cell permeability increases and causes a significant loss of minerals and water from the plant cell and can lead to early senescence of leaves (Ogunkunle et al 2015 ). Similar conformities in results were previously assessed by Bharti et al ( 2018 ), Rai ( 2019 ), Anake et al ( 2022 ), and Goswami et al ( 2022 ).…”

“…Increased level of air pollution adversely affects the concentration of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and AA in a plant cell (Rai 2019 ). Similar conformity in results was shown in studies by Anake et al ( 2022 ); Goswami et al ( 2022 ); Mandal and Dhal ( 2022 ) that identified a reduction in total chlorophyll content in the polluted area in comparison to nonpolluted sites.…”

“…Plants capture the particulate pollutants through the process of wet and dry deposition on the leaf surface and gaseous pollutants by the route of gaseous exchange (Wróblewska and Jeong 2021 ). Additionally, the meteorological parameters such as wind and rainfall also contributed in pollutant removal by dispersing or falling out of pollutants from the vegetation cover (Anake et al 2022 ). Trees are significantly impacted by the exposure of various air pollutants such as particulate matters, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, etc.…”

“…Similarly, Sinha et al ( 2017 ) observed that Magnifera indica , Alstonia scholaris , and Syzygium cumini are most suitable plantation at polluted sites in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, for the mitigation of air pollutants. For mitigation of air pollution, various encouraging ecological restoration programs, and the development of green belts are recommended (Anake et al 2022 ). For this, the tolerant species is selected to perform over environmental pollution while the sensitive species can serve as a biological indicator or a monitoring tool for environmental pollution (Enitan et al 2022 ; Mandal and Dhal 2022 ).…”

Selection of Dominant Moss Species for Ecological Restoration of Abandoned Mines – A Case Study of Tieshan Quarry in Qixing District, Guilin, China

“…According to the plant survival rate and plant growth index, it was confirmed that the dominant plants were more adaptable to the polluted substrate [14]. Another study screened out plants suitable for ecosystem restoration by comparing the tolerance and performance indices of plants to further promote ecological restoration [15]. In addition, some researchers have linked the above two aspects to study the plant-soil feedback mechanism [16], the relationship between microbial communities, and soil physicochemical properties [17,18] to study the dynamic cycle process of mine ecological restoration from a more comprehensive perspective.…”