Sal Tree : New Study
Scientists of the Environment Department of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) at Shimla have revealed that the Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the best air purifier to deal with the menace of pollution.
- It is one of the oldest and strongest trees found in India.
- It’s called the ‘Sentinel of the Forests’ because it can live for dozens of years and has the ability to withstand environmental changes.
- It is also found naturally in Uttarakhand, Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
- It can tolerate temperatures as high as 40-45°Celcius in summers and as low as 5°Celcius in winters.
- It can be grown in the plains, provided there is light loamy soil with good drainage and the area receives approximately 1000 mm – 3000 mm of annual rainfall.
- It requires a warm and humid climate and can thrive at altitudes up to 1500 metres above the sea level.
- This tree can live up to 100 years and doesn’t require frequent watering or care.
- It’s especially suitable for hilly areas.
- Its leaves are thick and waxy that can trap dust, carbon and fine particles in the air on their surface.
- It has a higher chlorophyll content which gives it the strength to withstand harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide present in vehicle exhaust.
- It also has a very dense canopy that acts as a natural filter while trapping pollutants in the air.
