Crop quality and quantity as influenced by important air pollutants in Pakistan

Abstract

In the agricultural sector, a variety of air pollutants have been found to be harmful to crops, resulting in negative impacts on both crop yield and the economy. These pollutants are primarily emitted during the incineration or combustion of coal and gas. Agricultural crops exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants can experience acute and chronic injuries, as well as visible markings on their foliage, reduced growth, and decreased yield, ultimately leading to premature death. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane have increased sharply from sources such as vehicles and factories. Some of these pollutants are regulated globally due to their severe impact on plant structure and metabolism. Developed countries have implemented sustainable mitigation strategies against air pollution, but developing countries face challenges in implementing a comprehensive framework for air pollution control due to limited resources. Pakistan is one such country where staple crops are affected by air pollution from various sources, and reducing the use of agrochemicals while maintaining crop productivity is a challenge. In this chapter, we present an overview of the effects of common air pollutants on crops, their pathways of exposure, and the resulting biochemical disturbances in plant metabolism. We also discuss the need for robust mitigation strategies and policies to address the disastrous effects of air pollution on staple crops in Pakistan, along with the laws that have been implemented to control air pollution.