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Vegetation as an Indicator of Soil Properties and Water Quality in the Akarçay Stream (Turkey)

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Abstract

In this study, the relationship among water quality, soil properties, and plant coverage in the region of the Akarçay stream was examined. Correlation analyses were carried out between soil samples taken from each of four plant communities in the Akarçay basin and water in the Akarçay stream. The four plant communities in the study area are as follows: Limonium lilacinum (Boiss. et Bal.) Wag., Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. Peganum harmala L., and Hordeum marinum Huds. subsp. marinum. B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO4 data from both soil and water samples were subjected to statistical analysis, and significant correlations were obtained (p < 0.05). These correlations indicated that the chemical features of the soil had a major effect on water quality. The important parameters were B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO4 for Limonium lilacinum communities; Ca, K, and pV for Peganum harmala; and B, Cl, Mg, pH, and pV for Alhagi pseudalhagi. There were also statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) among the parameters examined. These findings strongly suggested that these plant communities can be used as indicators for soil chemistry and water quality.

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Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Dr. H Shazly, Swansea, UK, for pre-editing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Literature, Afyon Kocatepe University, ANS Campus, 03200, Afyonkarahisarkarahisar, Turkey

    Ahmet Serteser, Mustafa Kargιoğlu & Muhsin Konuk

  2. Faculty of Technical Education, Afyon Kocatepe University, ANS Campus, 03200, Afyonkarahisarkarahisar, Turkey

    Yılmaz Içağa

Authors
  1. Ahmet Serteser
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  2. Mustafa Kargιoğlu
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  3. Yılmaz Içağa
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  4. Muhsin Konuk
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Correspondence to Muhsin Konuk.

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Serteser, A., Kargιoğlu, M., Içağa, Y. et al. Vegetation as an Indicator of Soil Properties and Water Quality in the Akarçay Stream (Turkey). Environmental Management 42, 764–770 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9165-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9165-8

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