Determination of Some Trace Element Content of Gum tragacanth (Astragalus gummifer Labill.) Growing Near Mining Sites
Keywords:
Mining, Astragalus, heavy metal, accumulationAbstract
The mining sector contributes significantly to the country's economy, but the processes involved in mining, from extraction to operation, can have various effects on soil and plant populations. Among these effects are changes in soil element concentrations, particularly increases in heavy metals, and corresponding changes in the element content of plants naturally occurring in the region. In this study, the plant Astragalus gummifer Labill. was collected, and the trace element contents of aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in the root, stem, and leaf parts of the plant were determined. The concentrations of Al and Mn between plant organs were found to be statistically very significant (p<0.01), while the concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, and Fe were significant (p<0.05), and the concentrations of Ni and Zn were insignificant. Astragalus gummifer Labill accumulated the highest amounts of Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn in its stems, while Mn accumulated in its leaves; stem > leaf > root. Additionally, the Translocation Factor (TF) values for the examined elements were calculated. For all elements examined in Astragalus gummifer (Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, and Zn), TF values were calculated to be >1. The gum tree accumulates heavy metals in its above-ground organs rather than in its roots, which has revealed its potential for use in phytoremediation.
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