Air pollution effect of O3 on crop yield in rural India

Measurement of surface ozone (O3) mixing ratio was made from January 2006 to December 2007 in Ahmednagar (19.1°N, 74.8°E, 657 m above sea level), India. The monthly average of daytime maximum of O3 mixing ratio ranged from 14 to 57 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) with an annual average of about 20 ppbv. The estimated winter wheat and summer crop yield reduction by 10% and 15%, respectively from present O3 pollution level associated with AOT40 (accumulation exposure of O3 concentration over a threshold of 40 ppbv) index values 7370-9150 ppbv h in rural areas.