Dynamics of traffic noise in a tropical city Varanasi and its abatement through vegetation

Noise level monitoring and its reduction with different width and height of vegetation belt were studied in the Varanasi city. Noise level monitoring of the Varanasi city revealed the fact that area category A (without vegetation) was highly polluted as compare to area category B (with vegetation) having less fluctuation of traffic load. Four plant species Putranjeva roxburghi, Cestrum nocturnum, Hibiscus rosasinensis and Murraya peniculata were tested for noise reduction study at different frequencies. Experiment revealed the fact that H. rosasinensis reduced noise highest at both low and high frequencies (100–500 Hz, 22 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 26 dB), followed by M. peniculata (100–500 Hz, 18 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 20 dB), P. roxburghi (100–500 Hz 15 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 17 dB) and C. nocturnum (100–500 Hz 9 dB and 2.5–6.3 KHz 14 dB). Significance of vegetation belt in noise reduction was established with multiple regression models.