Abstract
The present study was conducted during 2013 with the aim to evaluate the effects of stones crushing dust pollution on “Golden
orange” Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) fruit Yield and quality. The experiment was carried out on P. armeniaca L. cultivated
near the north-western (Brewery) bypass of Quetta. Plant materials (leaves and fruits) were collected from three polluted
locations at a distance of 500, 1000 and 1500m, respectively away from the stones crushing plants and a location of relatively
clean air considered a control at 4,000m away from these crushing plants. The deposit dust washed from the surface leaf area
of plant studied was found to be 4.74, 3.65, 1.85 and 0.22μg/cm² at the four locations, respectively. The locations affected by
more stone dust pollution (500m) were leading to a reduction in the yield and quality of fruits. The accumulation of dust
pollutants to the loamy sandy soil of the present study altered soil chemical composition. Significant reductions have been
observed in the biomass of fruits/tree, number of branches/tree and number of fruits/branch in polluted locations than those of
the control sites. The results of the current study are also revealed that the stones dust decreases the proximate and essential
elements constituents at a considerable level.
