GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF FLUORIDE IMPACT ON THE GROWTH AND HEALTH OF TRITICUM AESTIVUM L. IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study explores the impact of fluoride emissions from brick kilns on wheat cultivation and soil health in Pakistan, a country where wheat is a vital staple crop. The research focuses on Gujarkhan tehsil in Rawalpindi district, where brick kilns are prevalent, and investigates the fluoride concentration in both soil and wheat crops (Triticum aestivum L.). Samples were collected from  areas surrounding the kilns and a control site, with fluoride levels measured via potentiometry. Crop health and growth were analyzed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Results showed elevated fluoride levels in wheat samples from the southwest of the kilns, indicating localized contamination. This fluoride exposure led to poor crop growth and reduced yield. The study highlights the negative impact of kiln emissions on agriculture, emphasizing the broader economic and sociopolitical consequences, and calls for sustainable measures in kiln operations to mitigate environmental harm in agrarian regions.