Investigation of heavy metal contents and phytoremediation capacities of forage plant species spreading in natural areas around iron mines: The case of bi̇ngöl-avni̇k

Since mines are non-renewable resources with high economic value, they must be extracted from the places where they occur for the country's economy. The effects of mining facilities, which are of great importance for the country's economy, on the environment are of great importance. Screening of natural plant species in mining sites has advantages such as determining suitable plants for phytoremediation approaches. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the heavy metal contents of forage plant species spreading in the natural areas around the Avnik iron mine, which has been operated for 15 years in Genç district of Bingöl province, and to evaluate their phytoremediation capacities. In this direction, six legume, five gramineae and one rosaceae family ((Lathyrus sphaericus Retz., Trifolium campestre Schreb., Trifolium nigrescens Viv., Trifolium arvense L., Vicia cracca L., Lotus gebelia Vent., Poa bulbosa L., Bromus tectorum L., Aegilops neglecta Req. Ex Bertol., Calamagrostis pseudophragmites (Haller) Koeler, Stipa capensis Thunb. Sanguisorba minör L.)) were collected from the field 12 different species were collected. Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn contents were determined in roots, stems, leaves and generative parts of the plants. Translocation Factor (TF) and Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) values were calculated to investigate their phytoremediation capacity. TFCr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn>1 in L. sphaericus and V. cracca, TFAl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni>1 in T. nigrescens, TFAl, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn>1 in L. gebelia, TFCu>1 in P. bulbosa and S. capensis, TFCr, Mn, Ni>1 in B. tectorum, TFCr, Mn, Ni>1 in A. neglecta and C. pseudophragmites as TFMn>1, and TFAl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn>1 in S. minor, these species are considered to have phytoextraction potential. In particular, BCFroot values for Cr were quite high in T. campestre (38.91), P. bulbosa (17.80), A. neglecta (22.9) and S. capensis (21.30), strengthening the case for these species to be used in phytostabilization for Cr. Although some of these species collected from the mine site are thought to be promising for phytoremediation, further studies with single element toxicity in pot trials will provide clearer information on whether the species are phytoextractors or phytostabilizers.