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Abstract: Green belts are effective tools for mitigation of traffic generated noise. For green belt development it is necessary that plants used for green belts must be tolerant to air pollution. In this study, the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of plants commonly used for green belt establishment in Varanasi city, Uttar Pradesh, India was evaluated with the help of analysis of some biochemical parameters. On the basis of APTI and some biological and socioeconomic parameters of plants, the Anticipated Performance Index (API) of these plants was calculated. Among all the plants taken under consideration Ficus infectoria L. ranks first and is a keystone species. Mangifera indica L. and Ficus religiosa L. were classified into the ‘excellent’ category. The most suitable plant species for green belt development in urban areas were identified and recommended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Noise level monitoring and its reduction with different width and height of vegetation belt were studied in the Varanasi city. Noise level monitoring of the Varanasi city revealed the fact that area category A (without vegetation) was highly polluted as compare to area category B (with vegetation) having less fluctuation of traffic load. Four plant species Putranjeva roxburghi, Cestrum nocturnum, Hibiscus rosasinensis and Murraya peniculata were tested for noise reduction study at different frequencies. Experiment revealed the fact that H. rosasinensis reduced noise highest at both low and high frequencies (100–500 Hz, 22 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 26 dB), followed by M. peniculata (100–500 Hz, 18 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 20 dB), P. roxburghi (100–500 Hz 15 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 17 dB) and C. nocturnum (100–500 Hz 9 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 14 dB). Significance of vegetation belt in noise reduction was established with multiple regression models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]