Abstract
In this study, the growth of parsley plants (Petroselinum crispum) was observed in an acidic (pH 2) soil having high heavy metal concentrations with the addition of compost, lime and chemical fertilizer as soil amendments. The soil sample was obtained from the Kastel Village of the Çamburnu district in Trabzon. The compost used as soil conditioner was attained from the Kemerburgaz Recycling and Composting Facility located in Istanbul. Calcium ammonium nitrate was used as chemical fertilizer. Soil samples were prepared to contain i. 10% (v/v) compost (K1), ii. 10% (v/v) compost and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer (K2), iii. 10% (v/v) compost and 1.5% (v/v) lime (K3) iv. 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer (K4), v. 10% (v/v) compost, 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer (K5) and vi. 10% (v/v) compost and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer. The addition of chemical fertilizer was performed simultaneously with the plantation of parsley seeds. Also, plant seeds were planted in the both of the soil samples with no additives as a control samples. The prepared plant pots were placed in an artificially lighted environment with timer control obtaining 16 hours daylight, 8 hours night. Lengths and weights of root and aerial parts of parsley plants were measured at the end of the growth period. The pH of the soil mixtures in the plant pots were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. At the end of the study, plant growth was not observed in the acidic soil sample in the absence of soil amendments. The best plant growth (aerial part length 18.6 cm, root length 4 cm, weight 0.2 g) was achieved in commercial plant soil containing ammonium nitrate. The appropriate plant growth (aerial part length 11 cm, root length 4 cm, weight 0.053 g) for the acidic and heavy metal containing soil were reached with the sample containing 10% (v/v) compost, 1.5% (v/v) lime and 1.5% (v/v) chemical fertilizer.