Investigating the Effects of the Dust from Cement Industry on Vegetation Diversity and Density, Case Study: Shahroud Cement Industry

Cement industries are a major source of pollution. Cement dust deposition affects photosynthesis، plant production and reproductivity. High dust concentration in air causes a severe reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves، fertility and plant growth. In this work، the effects of dust particles from Shahroud cement plant on diversity and density of the vegetation were studied. Quadrate method was used to assess type of the dominant vegetation and the diversity. The type and amount of the dust deposited on the plants، vegetation diversity and density were measured in different directions and distances from the emission source. Analysis of dust samples from the plants surface showed that the main component of contamination due to cement industry is calcium oxide (CaO). The results of the evaluation of plants density and diversity and the amount of particles deposited on plant surface showed that there is an inverse correlation between the amount of dust deposition and the vegetation density and diversity. As the distance from the source of particles emission increased، the particle deposition rate decreases and the density and diversity of the vegetation increase. In this region، the plants are replaced by the resistant species such as Artemisia aucheri and Hulthemia persica.