Monitoring of Air Ion Concentrations for Different Vegetation Areas

In this Book, positive air ion and negative air ion concentrations in Sugarcane, Papaya, chickpea, Guava, Onion, and Maize vegetation areas are measured. It is found that these crops are natural air ion generators. Gerdien-type air ion counter is designed and developed at Palus and calibrated for the measurement of positive and negative air ions. The pollution index and air ion assessment coefficient give information about air quality in the different vegetation areas. For health, the air quality pollution index must be less than one but the air ion assessment coefficient must be greater than one. The effect of air ion concentration due to irrigated and non-irrigated vegetation areas shows that ion concentration is higher in the Irrigated vegetation area as compared to non-irrigated vegetation area due to transpiration, respiration, and photosynthesis. This study will be helpful for farmers and farm workers, PG, research students, and society to benefit from natural negative air ions in the environment. The vegetation areas may be given colour codes according to their pollution index.