Planting more plants will help in boosting immunity
Source: Chronicle News Service / Premchand Thongam

Imphal, May 10 2021: The Covid-19 crisis that the whole world is facing today once again brings to the fore the urgent necessity for planting more trees and plants that provide oxygen the most, in order to keep the atmosphere clean and maintain a healthy lifestyle by boosting immunity.

Oxygen is one of the most essential components that all living beings need and the present oxygen crisis amid the second wave of the pandemic has once again reminded the importance of clean air and oxygen.

Breathing in impure air will damage the lungs and other organs of human body and those with such health conditions are more prone to severe complications if contracted Covid.

Considering this, it is high time that the present generation turns their attention towards planting more trees and plants including indoor plants that can provide oxygen the most, purify the air by filtering small particulate matters in order to keep ourselves healthy.

According to Dr Kalkamei Ch Memin, an assistant professor at the department of floriculture and landscape architecture, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, oxygen in the atmosphere is produced by plants and trees through photosynthesis.

The present situation is the right time to remind everyone to know which plants give out oxygen the most and which plants help in purifying the air, and then to plant such plants more and more.

Plants that give maximum oxygen include Aloe Vera, rubber plant, peace lily, spider plant, money plant, snake plant, Chinese evergreen among indoor or house plant category; dendrobium, phelenop-sys, tradescantia and clerodendrum infotunatum among orchids; lady palm, bamboo palm, areca palm, dwarf palm among palms; curry, siris, neem, mango, simul, amla, Arjun, teak, gulmohar, acacia, peepal, banyan among trees; rose, Bougainvillea (cherei), Mimosa Pudica (touch-me-not plant), Cotoneaster, euphorbia milii, hibiscus, castor oil plant, Vinca rosea, lantana weed and Duranta Plumeri.

Associate professor Vikram Singh of the department of silviculture and agroforestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry of the same university, said that forest areas in the northeast region are contributing tremendously in releasing abundant oxygen into the atmosphere, keeping air quality good, controlling climate, conserving water & soil, as well as providing natural habitat to several wildlife resources.

A fully grown tree absorbs 48 pound of carbon dioxide in a year and releases enough oxygen for two persons.

In average, a fully grown tree produces 118 kg of oxygen in a year.

In another word, two fully grown trees are enough for a family of four.

Besides, trees absorb toxic gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Leaves act as a filtration mechanism to filter small harmful particulate matters from the atmosphere by trapping them and contribute in purifying the air.

In an article, Deewpika Samarh and PP Dabral of College of Horticulture Sikkim under CAU wrote that the Covid pandemic has changed the way human being lives and interacts with one another significantly.

With people remaining apart and far from socialisation, mental health conditions like depression, stress and anxiety are becoming part of the lifestyle for many.

However, these conditions can be addressed to a large extent through horti-therapy by engaging oneself in activities like planting flowers, fruit plants and indoor plants by making planters.

This will also help in purifying air and increasing oxygen level in the atmosphere, the duo wrote in the article.

(This article has been published under Media Fellowship Programme in Scientific Journalism sponsored by Public Relations and Media Management Cell, CAU.

For further query and information regarding the article, please contact PRMM Cell, CAU's information and publicity officer Dr Indira Thounaojam or through email: prmm@cau.ac.in) .

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