The effects of some heavy metals on germination of commonly cultivated forage plants

This study was carried out to determine effect of some heavy metals on the gemination of commonly cultivated forage crops at Mediterranean University, Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department in 2017. Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobyrchis viciifolia Scop.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench.) and maize (Zea mays L. plant species; lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) heavy metals and 0 (control), 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg L-1 heavy metals concentrations were used as experimental factors. This experiment was conducted in the split-split plot with four replications in 120 mm dimater petri dishes. Plant species, heavy metals and concentrations were placed on mean, split an split-split plot, respectively. Germination rate (%), germination index, mean germinaton time (day), radicle length (mm), plumala length (mm), radicle fresh weight (mg/plant), plumula fresh weigth (mg/plant), radicle dry weigth (mg/plant), plumula dry weight (mg/plant), dry matter rate (%), 90-10% germination time (day) and 75-25% germination time (day) traits were investigated. At the end of this study, while the common vetch generally had the highest resistant, sorghum had the most sensitive against to these heavy metals. Heavy metals can be listed in general as "mercury> cadmium> lead> chromium> nickel" in terms of toxicological effect on germination of plant species. Mercury and cadmium heavy metals of 400 and 800 mg L-1 concentrations were found to be more toxic than the same concentrations of other heavy metals.