Determination of soil nutrient status in Vuralia turcica populations growing at different locations in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey

Abstract

This study is an overview of the importance of soil nutrients for the maintenance of Vuralia turcica, which is an endemic in Turkey due to its natural habitats. Electrical conductivity, pH, and mineral element content (macroelements: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium, and microelements: boron, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) were analyzed in 21 soil samples taken at 30-60 m depth at 21 points from 8 different locations where V. turcica was growing to determine nutrient content, which is important for soil fertility and controls the crop yield. According to pH analysis, all samples were strongly alkaline (pH 8.62 to 9.30). Only one sample taken from the Kırca region was saline/alkaline and other samples were saltless. All samples were not toxic in reference to Cd level and were rich in terms of Na, K, Mg, and Ca, whereas Ni and P content were lower than the recommended amount in all samples tested. B, Cd, Cu, and Fe contents were sufficient according to ideal soil nutrient content level in all samples. N level was sufficient in all except for 3 soil samples. All tested soil samples were considered poor in Zn content, which varied from 0.19 to 1.83.