Assessing air pollution tolerance of plant species in vegetation traffic barriers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Cinnamomum camphora emerges as the most resilient plant species for roadside vegetation barriers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, demonstrating superior tolerance to air pollution. This finding is significant for urban greening strategies aimed at mitigating traffic-related pollutants. The study evaluated nine plant species using biochemical parameters (relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid) alongside dust-capturing potential. While Schefflera pueckleri, Psidium guajava, and Ficus benjamina exhibited sensitivity to pollution, others like Nerium oleander and Albizia julibrissin showed moderate tolerance but excelled in dust capture. N. oleander, in particular, stood out for its high dust-capturing ability, making C. camphora, N. oleander, and A. julibrissin the top candidates for roadside planting to enhance air quality.

Shrestha, S., Baral, B., Dhital, N. B., & Yang, H.-H. (2021). Assessing air pollution tolerance of plant species in vegetation traffic barriers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Sustainable Environment Research, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-020-00076-2