This research was done to find out the effect of increasing vermicompost application on yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) plant. For this purpose Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa cv. Bellafiesta lettuce kind and Riverm Company vermicompost were used in this research. Four vermicompost doses (0 kg/ha, 4000 kg/ha, 8000 kg/ha and 12000 kg/ha) were applied to lettuce plant. According to the results, important increases of fresh weight, plant size, number of leaf, length and width of leaf for each plant and dry matter yield of plants were determined with increasing vermicompost applications. But the effects of Vermicopmost applications on some macro element (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) contents of plant were not found significant statistically.

In this study, the capability of the basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plant as hyper accumulator in remediation of polluted soils was investigated. The study was carried out as pot trials under controlled conditions. Increasing concentrations of EDDHA-Fe (0 mgkg-1, 25 mgkg-1, 50 mgkg-1, 150 mgkg-1, 250 mgkg-1) were applied. The basil seedlings germinated in viols were acclimated into pots in triplicates and harvested 2 months later. The agro-morphological traits, Fe accumulation in plants and plant nutritional elements were analysed. The basil plant was found to accumulate Fe in its body in the presence of toxic levels of Fe metal and Fe was found to be antagonistic with micro nutritional elements. The plant fresh and dry weights and plant height were found to be statistically significant at 50 mgkg-1 EDDHA-Fe application, and beyond this concentration, these values decreased. The Mg content, which is the central atom in chlorophyll, was found to be the highest at the mentioned concentration. SPAD values showed a parallel change, too. The basil plant was shown to be a hyperaccumulator in terms of remediation of the Fe metal, which is both a nutritional element and a heavy metal. Moreover, Fe fertilization of 50 mgkg-1 was shown to be sufficient for basil cultivation as a medicinal plant. This result was found to be statistically significant at α = 0.05.

The spreadingof toxic substances as a result of human activities has become a serious problem for ground, atmosphere, and water ecosystems. Many of these toxic substances are pesticides, heavy metals such as chromium, and they cause serious health problems due to contamination ofsoil and food chain. In this study, the phytoremediation capacity of the medicinal plant Cirsium vulgarein the soil which was contaminated by Cr heavy metal, and the toxic effects of bioaccumulation using phytoremediation method were investigated. For this purpose, 30 mgkg-1 Cr heavy metal contaminant was applied to each pot as Chromium (IV)-oxide. To increase the absorption of this contaminant by the Cirsium vulgare, 0, 3, 6, 8, and 10 mmol/kg doses of EDTA were applied to the pots, respectively. According to the results, with the increasing doses of EDTA, Cr content of the above-ground parts of the plant reached to the highest value in the 6 mmol/kg EDTA chelate dosein 8.23mg/kgchromium for plant; after that, Cr accumulation decreased as a result of the toxic effect occurred inside the plant. These increases were determined as statistically significant(P<0,01). The results have demonstrated that the medicinal Cirsium vulgareplant is effective accumulator for the phytoremediation of the chromium-contaminated soils.

The aim of this research is to propound an innovative method to remediate the nickel (Ni) pollution in agricultural soils by using canola (Brassica napus L.) plant. For this purpose, a field experiment was conducted on the campus of Namık Kemal University, namely its Faculty of Agriculture Research and Experimental Area, during 2011. Nickel (100 mg/kg) as NiSO₄ forms was applied to each parcel. Then ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) chelate was applied to each parcel at four doses (0, 5, 10, and 15 mmol/kg) during the blossom period of the plants. The plants were harvested four months after planting. The soil in the samples was classified with neutral pH, low lime, and insufficient organic matter. The available phosphorus content and the exchangeable potassium content of research area were both found to be sufficient. The amount of available iron, manganese, and copper of the experimental soil was sufficient, but the available zinc amount of the soil was determined at a deficient level. The experimental area soil was classified to be in clay texture. According to the field experiment results, root and shoot yield of plants decreased with increasing EDTA doses. On the other hand, nickel amount of root and shoot of the plants increased with increasing EDTA application to the plants. These increases and decreases were found to be statistically significant at the level of 1%. According to the results of the experiment, heavy metal pollution of the soil of Tekirdağ province can be remediated by the phytoremediation method.

Herein is reported the remediation of cadmium in agricultural soil using patience dock (Rumex patientia L.). Potted experiments were performed on the campus of Namık Kemal University in greenhouse conditions. The soil was classified to have a neutral pH, low lime, and to be deficient in organic matter. The available phosphorus and the exchangeable potassium concentrations of the soil were both adequate. The soil was found to have a clay texture. Cadmium was added to the soil at 100 mg/kg. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was added at one of four concentrations during the growing season of the patience dock. The plants were harvested after two months. The yield of the roots and shoots of patience dock decreased with increased application of EDTA. However, the mass of cadmium in the roots and shoots increased with EDTA application. These changes in the plant properties were statistically significant at the 1% significance level. These results show that patience dock (Rumex patientia L.) is suitable for the phytoremediation of cadmium.