THE DETERMINATION OF CHANGES IN MONTHLY MINERAL CONTENTS OF THORNY SALTWORT (NOAEA MUCRONATA SUBSP. MUCRONATA)

摘要

Determining the changes in mineral content of Noaea mucronata plant is significantly important due to the facts that the plant grows in extremely arid and saline areas and appreciably consumed by the grazing sheep. This study was conducted to analyse the mineral content for 7 months during the growing period of Noaea mucronata from April to October in 2015 at 3 (three) replication according to the randomized complete block design. Noaea mucronata plant grows naturally at the wind erosion sites located in Aralik district, Igdir, in Turkey. P (phosphorus), K (potassium), the contents of Ca (calcium), Mg (magnesium), Na (sodium), Cu (copper), Fe (iron), Zn (zinc) and Mn (manganese) were analysed for approximately 3-5 cm of the stem ends (shoot + leaf) of 5 plants in each of 3 blocks, provided 15 plants in total. We observed a significant change in the mineral content of Noaea mucronata subsp. mucronata during the natural growth period. Fe content was the highest element in the summer (July, August and September), Mn content was the highest element in the autumn (September), Mg content was the highest in the spring and autumn (April, August and September), and Cu content was the highest in the spring, summer and autumn (April, July and October) in comparison to the other periods. According to the average of seven months, the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn were 0.49, 1.04, 2.50, 0.47, 0.15, 2.00 ppm, 211.95 ppm, 36.60 ppm and 39.90 ppm, respectively. Research results revealed that the contents of P, K, Ca, Na and Zn were high during the spring period (April, May and June).