2023, Vol. 11, Issue 3, Part A

author(s)
Poonam Sharma Vyas, Mridula Khandelwal, Ankita Choudhary and Shivali Kharoliwal

abstract
Fly ash is made up of tiny, glass-like particles, and when it deposits on plant leaves, it prevents proper transpiration and photosynthesis. Fly-ash is highly basic, rich in many important and non-essential elements, but lack in both nitrogen and phosphorus, and it influences the physio-chemical properties of soil. Quality of air of Kota city is rich in fly ash content due to presence of coal based Thermal power plant in city and therefore it affects the primary and secondary metabolites of plants. In present study changes in biochemical traits of two medicinally important plants namely Azadirachta indica and Tinospora cordifolia were studied at and around Kota thermal power plant. Two experimental sites were selected at different distances from the power plant. Plant responses such as leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b) and total chlorophyll contents, protein and reducing sugars (Carbohydrates) were measured. Substantial decline in leaf pigments, total chlorophyll, protein and carbohydrate content was observed showing fly ash stress on plants. The study concludes that these plant species of the particular area are sensitive to damaging effect of various types of pollutions caused by flyash.