Spatial distribution of heavy metals in soils around cement factory and health risk assessment: a case study of Canakkale-Ezine (NW Turkey).

Sustainable use of agricultural land plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. For sustainable use of soils, it is very important to focus on the pollution status. This study was conducted on the soils in the northern part of the Ezine district in northwestern Turkey. The study aimed to determine the physicochemical properties of the soils in the vicinity of the cement plant, the concentrations of heavy metals, the spatial distribution of heavy metals, and their impact on the health of the local human population. Soil samples were collected from the cement plant in different directions (S,W, N, E, NE, SW) and at different distances (1, 3, 5, and 7 km) from 0-10 cm depth with three replicates. The soil samples were analyzed for texture, pH, electrical conductivity, lime, and heavy metals such as Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The soils had different textures (loam, sandy clay loam, loam, sandy loam), slightly alkaline pH, low lime content, and moderate organic matter content. Except for Cd and Pb, the average values of the other heavy metals (Co = 1.18 < 19 mg kg-1,Cr = 50.92 < 90 mg kg-1, Cu = 31.21 < 45 mg kg-1, Fe = 16,007 < 47,200 mg kg-1, Mn = 499.68 < 850 mg kg-1, Ni = 41.17 < 68 mg kg-1, Zn = 50.91 < 95 mg kg-1) in the soils were below the normal background level. The heavy metal contents of the soils in the study area are influenced by various sources (geological structure, agrochemicals used in agricultural activities, and vehicle traffic). The prevailing wind direction did not influence the local distribution of heavy metals in soils in the study area. The health risk assessment model studies showed that the hazard quotient values of less than 1 for adults and children indicate that the noncarcinogenic risks were insignificant. People exposed to heavy metals in the soils of the study area contaminated from various sources for a long time could be at carcinogenic risk. Since Cr and Pb exceed the acceptable risk range in children and Cr exceeds the acceptable risk range in adults, geochemical monitoring of soils should be conducted periodically by authorized institutions in the study area.

Suitable site selection by using full consistency method (FUCOM): a case study for maize cultivation in northwest Turkey.

The agricultural land evaluation procedure is a valuable guide for growing plants where they are best suitable, and it has a critical role in actualizing sustainable plans for providing food security for the growing population. In agricultural land suitability analysis, different multi-criteria decision-making methods are applied. The main objective of this study is to introduce the potential usage of a new multi-criteria decision-making method the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) in agricultural land suitability analysis. The study was carried out in the northern part of the Karamenderes plain in NW Turkey. Nine land characteristics (soil texture, soil depth, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, pH, slope, drainage, CaCO3%, and cation exchange capacity) were used for the land evaluation study. The weighting values of the land characteristics were calculated by the FUCOM. According to the results, 223 ha (6.26%) were highly suitable, 2650 ha (74.40%) were moderately suitable, 508 ha (14.26%) were marginally suitable, and 181 ha (5.08%) were not suitable for maize cultivation. The weighted values of the parameters were also tested with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Best-Worst Method (BWM). There is a general compatibility between the methodologies. The data obtained from these methods showed that analysis consists of a very positive relationship with each other. The comparisons of these methodologies showed that FUCOM's prioritization order simplicity in parameter weighting and ability to reduce the processing intensity would provide a significant contribution and advantage to the land evaluation experts and planners. It is recommended that the Full Consistent Method could be reliably used in agricultural land suitability analysis.

A GIS-based land evaluation model for peach cultivation by using AHP: a case study in NW Turkey.

Crop-based land suitability studies constitute an important component of precision and sustainable agricultural practices. In this study, a model was created to determine suitable lands for peach farming with the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The land suitability model was carried out in Derekolu region of Bayramiç town of Çanakkale province. Within the scope of the study, a total of 12 parameters, namely soil depth, soil texture, EC, pH, organic matter content, CaCO3 content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, elevation, aspect, and slope, were used. Present assessments revealed that of the assessed lands, 367.50 ha was highly suitable, 7085.25 ha moderately suitable, 6341.25 ha marginally suitable, and 378.50 ha not suitable for peach cultivation. Texture, slope, and CaCO3 content were respectively identified as the most effective factors in peach cultivation. The combined use of AHP and GIS techniques in the identification of suitable lands for peach farming facilitated assessments and provided significant advantages in terms of time and economic aspects. Further research is recommended to test the validity of the present model for different geographies under different climate and soil conditions.

Suitable habitat modelling using GIS for orchids in the Black Sea Region (North of Turkey).

Orchids are under continuous threat from many factors, especially human-sourced. Estimating the emerging threat factors linked to habitat losses is very important to understand the effects on biodiversity and to design protection strategies and protected areas. Field assessments and modelling were performed with the aim of determining areas where orchids may spread and to reveal priority areas to create a protection plan. Additionally, the aim was to contribute to development of protection strategies for taxa under threat. This study was performed in the Black Sea region located in the north of Turkey. A total of 40 taxa belonging to 15 Orchidaceae genera were collected. The field assessment process used topographic parameters and threat factors. Habitats where orchids are most commonly distributed comprise open areas, meadows, pastures, and forests. Additionally, the density of orchids was determined to be highest at altitudes from 400 to 1600 m. The highest risk factors for taxa in the region include grazing and trampling. Based on these results, suitable habitats were modelled and mapped according to the observed habitat requirements. The determined suitable habitats will represent the preliminary targets for ex situ protection programs where required. The maps revealed here are important for labeling areas with an estimated orchid density and for protection of these areas if necessary. Our field observations were compatible with the obtained maps. Additionally, we consider these maps to be very important in terms of determining areas where taxa will be spread in preliminary field studies.

Impact of urbanization on soil loss: a case study from sod production.

The rapidly increasing population of urban centers leads to the increasing need for greenspaces. Sodding of turfgrass provides instant greenspace, but it removes soil from sod farms. The extent of such removal has not been widely quantified. The amount quantity of soil and organic matter lost with sod harvest and the associated cost of nutrients lost from six sod farms in the Marmara region of Turkey were determined. Soil loss ranged from 166 to 243 Mg ha-1 year-1, while the associated organic matter loss ranged from 1 to 6 Mg ha-1 year-1. The amount of soil loss increased with increases in gravimetric water, clay, and silt contents, and duration under sod harvest, while it decreased with an increase in sand content. Annual nutrient lost ranged from 117 to 449 kg ha-1 for N, from 2 to 18 kg ha-1 for P2O5, and from 21 to 175 kg ha-1 for K2O. Replacing the nutrient lost would cost about $134 ha-1 year-1 for sandy soils and $444 ha-1 year-1 for fine-textured soils. Soil lost with sod harvest was 134 times higher than that from agricultural lands by erosion in the region, although the area under sod production is much smaller than that under croplands. Similarly, organic matter loss was 4 to 5 times higher than the accumulation rate under established turfgrass in golf courses and lawns in locations with similar climate. Overall, sod harvesting results in significant and costly soil, organic matter, and nutrient loss, which, although small in area, can be an important component of total soil erosion.

Applying multivariate statistics for identification of groundwater resources and qualities in NW Turkey.

This study, performed in Çanakkale-Ezine in NW of Turkey, analyzes the physicochemical properties of 37 groundwater wells. These 37 wells were chosen to represent each geological unit in the study area. The main purpose of the study and its contribution to the literature is to produce information about the resources and availability of groundwater by using multivariate statistical methods and lithology. For determination hydrochemical facies of groundwater, Piper trilinear diagram was used. Gibbs diagram was applied for determining the mechanism of groundwater chemistry and diagram showed that the interaction of rock-water is more dominant in the study area. Multivariate statistics were applied to physicochemical properties for identification origins of waters. According to the Piper diagram, 16 of the wells were identified as Ca-HCO3 type, 13 of them as Ca-Cl type, 5 of them as mixed Ca-Mg-Cl type, 2 of them as Na-Cl type, and 1 as Ca-Na-HCO3 type. In the study with the purpose of determining the resources of groundwater, the physicochemical properties of the wells are analyzed with hierarchical cluster (HCA) and non-hierarchical cluster (K-means) methods, and the resources are associated with the lithology based on these methods. A total of 37 wells are divided into five different clusters through the HCA method. Further, for the interpretation of the resources of the groundwater, the facies of the waters on the Piper diagram are evaluated based on the five clusters generated through the HCA method and on the lithology. In the study, the results obtained from the K-means method are not significant and in line with the lithology for the interpretation of the resources of the groundwater. In conclusion, this study with limited dataset reveals that using HCA method is very effective to identify the origins of groundwater and present the association with lithology.