Phytoremediation method and removal of copper accumulation: Example of onion (Allium cepa L.)

ABSTRACT PHYTOREMEDIATION METHOD AND REMOVAL OF COPPER ACCUMULATION: EXAMPLE OF ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) Hülya GEDİK Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition MSc. Thesis Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevinç YEŞİLYURT Soil metal contamination is the main concern because of the growing number of affected areas around the world and the harmful effects of metals on the environment and living things. Because of the heavy metals' non-biodegradability and toxicity, it is crucial to prevent further metal pollution and rehabilitate the thousands of polluted areas on the earth. In order to fight these problems, the phytoremediation method, which is known as an environmentally friendly, easily applicable, and cost-effective method, is widely preferred and many studies are carried out on this subject. In this study, the cultivation of the onion (Allium cepa L.) plant, which is an important food source, and its situation in our country were evaluated and the usability of phytoremediation for copper (Cu) heavy metal was investigated. The experiment was carried out in Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, using onion (Allium cepa L.) plant, 1 plant x 3 replications x 4 different doses (0-30-60-120 mg kg-1 CuSO4.5H2O) copper. The trial was carried out according to the "Random Blocks Trial Design". As a result of the experiment, it was determined that the onion plants grown in pots with the highest applied copper content of 120 mg kg-1 accumulated copper in the roots (26,25 mg kg-1). The highest accumulation in the above ground part of the onion was found to be 19.16 mg kg-1 copper in pots where a 30 mg kg-1 dose was applied. At the end of this study, it was concluded that the onion (Allium cepa L.) plant can be used in phytoextraction, which is one of the phytoremediation methods, in removing Cu heavy metals from soils. Keywords: Copper, Onion (Allium cepa L.), Phytoremediation, Soil pollution, Heavy metal, Phytoextraction