Agrawal M, Singh B, Rajput M, Marshall F, Bell J N B
Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India .
Environ Pollut. 2003;126(3):323-9. doi: 10.1016/s0269-7491(03)00245-8.
Peri-urban agriculture is vital for the urban populations of many developing countries. Increases in both industrialization and urbanization, and associated air pollution threaten urban food production and its quality. Six hour mean concentrations were monitored for SO(2), NO(2) and O(3) and plant responses were measured in terms of physiological characteristics, pigment, biomass and yield. Parameter reductions in mung bean (Vigna radiata), palak (Beta vulgaris), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and mustard (Brassica compestris) grown within the urban fringes of Varanasi, India correlated directly with the gaseous pollutants levels. The magnitude of response involved all three gaseous pollutants at peri-urban sites; O(3) had more influence at a rural site. The study concluded that air pollution in Varanasi could negatively influence crop yield.
城郊农业对许多发展中国家的城市人口至关重要。工业化和城市化的加剧以及相关的空气污染威胁着城市粮食生产及其质量。对二氧化硫、二氧化氮和臭氧的六小时平均浓度进行了监测，并从生理特征、色素、生物量和产量方面测量了植物的反应。在印度瓦拉纳西城市边缘种植的绿豆、菠菜、小麦和芥菜的参数降低与气态污染物水平直接相关。城郊地区的反应程度涉及所有三种气态污染物；臭氧在农村地区的影响更大。研究得出结论，瓦拉纳西的空气污染可能对作物产量产生负面影响。
