Partical elemental analysis for the collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) grown in Eastern Black sea region

SUMMARY Partial Elemental Analysis for the Collards {Brassica oleracea var. acephala) Grown in Eastern Black Sea Region The elements contained in plants have vital importance for both plant and for the living creatures consuming them. The determination of the quantity of these elements contained in vegetables which are especially consumed by human beings on a large scale for nourishment is a must and need. In this study, the quantities of some of the elements contained in the collards grown in Eastern Black Sea Region and in the soils where the collards were grown were determined. These values were discussed and interpreted according to the plants' and from the consumers' point of view. Both for the collards and for the soils where they were grown, the quantities of Ca, Mg, Na, K, N and P as macro elements and Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn as micro elements (trace elements) were measured. In addition this, the quantities of Co, Ni and Pb only in soils were evaluated. The analysis of Ca, Na and K were carried out in Flame Photometer, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni and Pb in Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), N Combustion Method and P, UV-GB Spectrophotometer. The results obtained for the samples taken from different regions were compared with each other and with the values given for the general cabbages in the literature. It was observed that the elemental contents of the collards collected from 1 8 different pilot locations were different. This result was attributed to the variation of the soils where the collards were grown and the variation of the conditions. The collards were selected 9 pilot locations close to the highway and 9 of them 6-12 km away from the highway, which is in the inner part. At the end of the investigation, it was determined that especially the trace element contents of the collards collected from the vicinity of the highway and the contents of the soils where they were grown, was higher than the contents of the samples collected away from the highway. However it was observed that this difference was not too high and was generally within the values reported in the literature. It is thought that collards are rich in nutritional elements investigated in this study and will provide an important quantity of the daily nutritional intake for humans. Key Words: Collards {Brassica oleracea var. acephala), Macronutrient, Trace Element, AAS VIII