Eco-Physiological Assessment of Native Tree Species for Mitigating Airborne Pollutants and Greenbelt Development in Coal Mining Region

Abstract

Coal mining operations are major sources of atmospheric pollution, substantially degrading ambient air quality and imposing physiological stress on surrounding vegetation. This study aims to evaluates the pollution tolerant capacity of seven native plant species across Core, Buffer, and Transition zones within the specific range Magadh coal mining region, Jharkhand, India. To identify suitable pollution tolerant species for sustainable greenbelt development, the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI), Anticipated Performance Index (API) and Dust Capturing Capacity (DCC) were assessed. The results revealed significant species-specific variation in pollution tolerance and particulate interception across the pollution gradient. Syzygium cumini recorded the highest APTI value (16.35) in the highly polluted Core zone, primarily associated with elevated ascorbic acid concentration (12.61 mg g⁻¹), indicating a strong antioxidative defense mechanism against oxidative stress. In contrast, Ficus benghalensis and Mangifera indica exhibited superior particulate retention capacity, with maximum DCC values of 2.50 mg cm⁻² and 2.91 mg cm⁻², respectively. The native climax species Shorea robusta maintained relatively stable physiological attributes across pollution zones; however, its morphological characteristics resulted in a lower API classification (“Poor”, 50%). Integrating biochemical, morphological, and socio-economic attributes, API analysis identified Ficus benghalensis (Grade IV, 68.75%) and Syzygium cumini (Grade IV, 62.5%) as effective candidates for pollution mitigation. Conversely, Urena lobata and Lantana camara exhibited high sensitivity to mining-induced air pollution. The integration of biochemical, physiological, and morphological parameters provides a comprehensive framework for species selection. The study highlights the importance of utilizing pollution-tolerant and high dust-retaining species for designing sustainable greenbelts in coal mining areas.