COS 137-5 - Impact of Environmental Gradients on Herbaceous Aboveground Biomass; a Case Study of the Industrial zone, Islamabad

Abstract: The continuous and rapid industrialization resulted in various impacts on plant biomass. However, the influence of industrialization varies depending on industrial activities. I-9 is an industrial area located in the capital of Pakistan. The impact of soil properties on AGB is poorly understood, therefore, this study was designed to investigate the influence of abiotic factors on herbaceous total Aboveground Biomass (AGB) in the polluted area. Data were gathered by establishing 50 quadrats of 1 × 1 m² in the industrial zone. AGB was collected by using the harvesting technique. R-software were employed to determine the effect of environmental variables on species AGB. Positive correlation between AGB and Soil Moisture (SM) were recorded at plot level, while other variables showed significant negative effect on biomass. Heavy metals i.e. Znshowed positive relationship with AGB, Pb while Fe pose neither direct nor indirect relationship with AGB. Pearson correlation indicated that among soil properties, soil moisture has direct and positive significant effect on AGB thus enhancing biomass productivity. Thus obtained results exhibited that soil physicochemical properties and heavy metals are closely related to AGB. We conclude that biomass is positively effected by the soil moisture and negatively influenced by other soil factors in the polluted environment. This study could act as a baseline to explore the complex underlying mechanisms between plant biomass and pollution.

Keywords: Industrialization, pollution, Herbaceous Aboveground Biomass, Environmental variables, Heavy metals