Phytoremediation Possibilities of Boron-Contaminated Environments by Wild Plants Growing on Boron Reserve Areas in Turkey

Abstract

Turkey has almost 70% of the total boron (B) in the world, and B-reserve areas form a special habitat in terms of plant-environment relationships. In this study, these relationships were used to investigate phytoremediation possibilities for B-contaminated environments. Field studies were carried out in seven different open B mine sites and their environments in four different provinces of Turkey. At the end of chemical analyses of soil and plant samples, 11 wild and potential phytoremediator plant species were determined; two of them were aquatic whereas nine were terrestrial. Some of the species were halophytes. Puccinella distans subsp. distans (Poaceae) and Gypsophila perfoliata subsp. perfoliata (Caryophyllaceae) showed both the greatest tolerance and greatest B accumulation ratios. The results of the present study could be used as a tool to improve effective and environmentally friendly management strategies for both aquatic and terrestrial environments contaminated with high B concentrations.