A study on the soil-plant interactions of some Cistus L. species distributed in West Anatolia

Turk J Bot 26 (2002) 149-159 © TÜB‹TAK Research Article A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia Süleyman BAfiLAR, Yunus DO⁄AN, Hasan Hüseyin MERT Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Education, Department of Biology, 35150 Buca, ‹zmir - TURKEY Received: 07.09.2000 Accepted: 08.11.2001 Abstract: This study was undertaken with the aim of examining the soil-plant interactions of Cistus creticus L. and Cistus salviifolius L. in West Anatolia. The soil analysis data showed that these plants grow in different kinds of soils with sandy-clayey-loam, clayeyloam and loamy texture. The soils in general are not saline but are moderately and slightly alkaline, being rich in nitrogen and having a low level of phosphorus and potassium. They are unaffected by the calcium carbonate content in soils. A negative relation was observed in C. creticus after regression analysis between plant calcium and soil phosphorus, plant calcium and soil salts, but a positive relation between plant calcium and soil calcium carbonate. In C. salviifolius, there was a positive relation between plant calcium and soil pH. Key Words: Cistus creticus, Cistus salviifolius, Autecology. Bat› Anadolu’da Yay›l›fl Gösteren Baz› Cistus L. Türlerinin Toprak-Bitki ‹liflkileri Üzerine Bir Çal›flma Özet: Bu çal›flma, Bat› Anadolu’da yay›l›fl göstern Cistus creticus L. ve Cistus salviifolius L.’un toprak-bitki iliflkilerini ortaya koymak amac›yla yap›lm›flt›r. Bu iki türün, kumlu-killi-t›nl›, kumlu-t›nl› ve t›nl›; tuzsuz, hafif ve orta alkali; azotça zengin; fosfor ve potasyum bak›m›ndan eksik, kireç bak›m›ndan ise her türlü toprakta yetiflti¤i tespit edilmifltir. Yap›lan regresyon analizlerinde C. creticus’da; toprak fosforu ile bitki kalsiyumu, toprak tuzu ile bitki kalsiyumu aras›nda negatif bir iliflki, toprak kireci ile bitki kalsiyumu aras›nda pozitif bir iliflki; C. salviifolius’da toprak pH ile bitki kalsiyumu aras›nda pozitif bir iliflki gözlenmifltir. Anahtar Sözcükler: Cistus creticus, Cistus salviifolius, Otekoloji. Introduction The Cistaceae family includes 8 genera with 175 species distributed in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, especially in Mediterranean climates. Out of these taxa, the woody and perennial genus Cistus L. has 16 species, 5 of which are distributed in Turkey. These are Cistus creticus L., C. salviifolius L., C. parviflorus L., C. monspeliensis L. and C. laurifolius L. (Davis, 1965). Although C. parviifolius and C. monspeliensis are macchia elements, it was reported that they are less frequently found in West Anatolian macchia plant societies, and C. laurifolius is a sub-Mediterranean element (Rikli, 1948). On the other hand, C. creticus and C. salviifolius are reported as dominant elements of West Anatolian macchia and phrygana plant societies (Peflmen, 1971). Therefore, among these five Cistus species, C. creticus and C. salviifolius were investigated. Both are regarded as dominant elements of macchia and phrygana and such groups are named Cistus-macchia. However, some investigators call these low-macchia, being dominated by Cistus and Erica (Mert, 1973). C. creticus is distributed all along the coastal belt of the Turkish Mediterranean phytogeographical region, as well as some enclaves along the Black Sea coast. These species adorn habitats with their purple flowers from late March till June, extending from sea level up to an altitude of 1000 m (Davis, 1965; Mert, 1973). C. salviifolius shows a wider distribution. It extends towards the inner parts of Anatolia up to the Submediterranean and Irano-Turanian regions (Mert, 1973). The flowers of C. salviifolius are white. Flowering starts in early April and fruits ripen from late July to early 149 A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia August. It is distributed among the macchia from sea level to 500 m in altitude (Davis, 1965). 14. Marmaris, Il›calar, Do¤an 367; 15. Bodrum, Ortakent, Do¤an 368; 16. Köyce¤iz, Do¤an 369. The resin obtained from C. creticus is volatile and smells like etheric oil. It is used for the treatment of dysentery and used as expectorant. The leaves of C. salviifolius are used as tea and for the treatment of cancer (Baytop, 1991; Zeybek & Zeybek, 1994). Dye substances obtained from aerial parts of the Cistus species, especially fruit cupules and leaves, give a yellow-brown colour and its shades. These are widely used in areas where the hand-made kilim and carpet industry is present (Eyübo¤lu et al., 1983; Anonymous, 1991). The soil samples were collected from the same localities from where plants were collected during the flowering period. The litter on the soil was removed and soils were dug out from 0-30 cm at random. About 500 g of each sample was placed in polyethylene bags and brought to the laboratory. These were air dried, ground, passed through a 2 mm sieve and analysed for different physico-chemical characteristics. Texture, total soluble salts, calcium carbonate and pH were determined according to the methods outlined in Öztürk et al. (1997). Total nitrogen was determined according to Bremner (1965), using the Kjeldahl method and total phosphorus by the Bingham (1949) method. Total potassium was determined by using a flame photometer, following the method outlined by Pratt (1965). In view of the economic importance of the Cistus species mentioned above, an attempt has been made to present soil-plant interactions of C. creticus and C. salviifolius here. Materials and Methods The specimens of C. creticus and C. salviifolius were collected from different localities in West Anatolia and identified taxonomically with the help of the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands (Davis, 1965). These localities are listed below. All of the specimens are deposited at the personal herbarium with a Do¤an code. C. creticus ‹zmir; 1. Menderes, Yeniköy, Do¤an 335, 2. Seferihisar, Akkum, Do¤an 336; 3. Çeflmealt›, Güvendik, Do¤an 337; 4. Mordo¤an, Do¤an 338; 5. Çeflme, Boyal›k, Do¤an 339; 6. Beyda¤, Alakeçili, Do¤an 340; Manisa; 7. Akhisar, Do¤an 341; 8. Gördes, Do¤an 342; 9. Alaflehir, Derbent, Do¤an 343; Ayd›n; 10. Kufladas›, Do¤an 344; 11. Didim, Akbük, Do¤an 345; 12. Ortaklar, Do¤an 346; Denizli; 13. Güney, Do¤an 347; Bal›kesir; 14. S›nd›rg›, Do¤an 348; 15. Biga, Do¤an 349; Mu¤la; 16. Milas, Bafa lake, Do¤an 350; 17. Bodrum, Gündo¤an, Do¤an 351; 18. Fethiye, Do¤an 352; 19. Marmaris, Il›calar, Do¤an 353. C. salviifolius ‹zmir; 1. Gümüldür, Ahmetbeyli, Do¤an 354; 2. Çeflme, Alaçat›, Do¤an 355; 3. Seferihisar, Akkum, Do¤an 356; 4. Çeflmealt›, Güvendik, Do¤an 357; 5. Mordo¤an, Do¤an 358; 6. Selçuk, Do¤an 359; Ayd›n; 7. Ortaklar, Do¤an 360; 8. Bafa, Do¤an 361; 9. Didim, Do¤an 362; 10. Söke, Do¤an 363; 11. Kufladas›, Do¤an 364; Mu¤la; 12. Milas, Gökçek, Do¤an 365; 13. Fethiye, Do¤an 366; 150 Aerial parts (stem, leaves and flowers) of the plants were collected the localities given above in July, dried at 80°C in an air-blown oven for 24 hours, ground with a commercial blender and prepared for analysis. Total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were determined following the methods given by Bremner (1965), Lott et al. (1965), and Kacar (1972). Statistical correlations between pH, total soluble salts, calcium carbonate, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soils and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in the plants were examined. Regression curves and correlation coefficients were obtained with the help of statistical program given by ‹kiz et al. (1996) and McClave et al. (1998). Results and Discussion The natural habitat of our study area, where Mediterranean climatic conditions are dominant, and in which winters are warm and rainy, and summers are dry and hot, are covered by sclerophyllous trees and macchia species which need less water and high temperatures (Temuçin, 1993). Investigation of Mediterranean climatic conditions and drought levels were performed according to Emberger (Akman, 1990). In Emberger’s climate classification, the following climatic elements are used by taking into consideration that plants are active between certain temperatures: the mean minimum temperature for the coldest month (m), the mean maximum temperature for the hottest month (M), annual S. BAfiLAR, Y. DO⁄AN, H. H. MERT precipitation (P) and pluviothermic quotient values (Q). Meteorological data obtained from local meteorology stations of seven cities in our study area were applied to Emberger’s formula. These results with respect to the cities are as follows: Çanakkale (P: 628.5 mm, M: 30.2ºC, m: 2.8ºC, Q: 78.2), Bal›kesir (P: 594.8 mm, M: 30.7ºC, m: 1.5ºC, Q: 70.4), Manisa (P: 748.3 mm, M: 34.4ºC, m: 2.9ºC, Q: 81.4), ‹zmir (P: 695.2 mm, M: 32.7ºC, m: 5.5ºC, Q: 87), Ayd›n (P: 670.1 mm, M: 35.1ºC, m: 4.2ºC, Q: 73), Denizli (P: 351.7 mm, M: 33.3ºC, m: 1.9ºC, Q: 60.4) and Mu¤la (P: 1209.2 mm, M: 32.8ºC, m: 1.6ºC, Q: 133.5) (Akman, 1990). From these results, according to the pluviothermic quotient value (Q) and the annual precipitation value (P), which identified the general drought level, the areas were C. creticus and C. salviifolius are distributed are classified into humid (Mu¤la), sub-humid (Bal›kesir, Manisa, ‹zmir, Ayd›n, Çanakkale) and semi-arid (Denizli) bioclimatic zones, among six Mediterranean bioclimates (Akman, 1990). However, both species are densely distributed in sub-humid Mediterranean bioclimatic zones. According to the mean minimum temperature for the coldest month in the Mediterranean bioclimatic zone, it is understood that C. creticus and C. salviifolius are distributed in cool zone (Çanakkale, Bal›kesir, Manisa, Denizli, Mu¤la) and temperate (‹zmir, Ayd›n) zone variants. However, both species are densely distributed in the cool zone. It was claimed that in the area where the mean minimum temperature for the coldest month is below zero, the development of macchie elements is almost impossible (Temuçin, 1993), and our results show a parallelism with this claim. In the study area, different geological and lithological structures can be seen. Generally in the area, Palaeozoic metamorphic schist-gneiss, mica schist; alluvion, quaternary; Neogene marl, sandstone, soft limestone; Mesozoic limestone, flysh and ophiolite structures are dominant. Sometimes, Palaeozoic clayey schist can be found. Soil structures in the region are determined by lithological characteristics. Generally in the region, red Mediterranean soil–Alfisol, brown forest soil–inceptisol, and alluvial soil are dominant. In addition, very little stony–pebbly soils and rendzinas can be found (Atalay, 1994; Atalay, 1997). The investigation of the relationship between parent material–soil and vegetation in the region showed that soils were eroded away and low-nutrient soils remained on the siliceous parent material. In these types of regions, short shrubs consisting of phrygana or garigue are widespread. On the tuffites, which have volcanosedimentary characteristics, the poorest settings from the number of species and vegetation density are formed from these formations. The volcanites found in the study area are andesitic-dacitic volcanic stones, agglomerates, tuffs and granites. Volcano-sedimentary formations are layers of neogene lake sediments which originated from tuffs and agglomerates, as well as clay-stone, sandstone and marl layers. Andesites are impermeable and extremely resistant to dissolving. Since they contain feldspar, the dissolved products are generally clayey. However, in some places where erosion occurs rocks appear. In regosols and lithosols, some elements between the size of sand and gravel are present. In these fields, because the pedogenical process is extremely slow, the soil is transported in a short time by erosion. Very weak vegetation is found on this soil. In contrast to these findings, a lithobiome, affected by the bedrock, occurs (Çukur, 1995; Atalay, 1997; Atalay et al., 1998). Phrygana elements are widespread in fields where parent material appears with very little soil on which plant growth is extremely difficult. They grow on volcanic intro-structural neogene deposits. Their vegetation is distributed on every kind of soil, especially on red Mediterranean, rendzina and other calcareous soils. They are also seen on volcanic tuffs and andesites. Phrygana elements in the study area, because of the dense destruction, seem to form stable vegetation on agglomerate, neogene clayey-calcareous and volcanic tuffs (Atalay et al., 1998). Physical Analysis of the Soils The results of the physical analysis of the C. creticus and C. salviifolius soils collected from the study area during the flowering and fruiting period are given in Tables 1 and 2. C. creticus grows on clayey-loam (31.50%), sandy-clayey-loam (26.30%), sandy-loam (15.75%), and loamy (26.30%) soils. C. salviifolius prefers clayey-loam (37.50%), sandy-clayey-loam (12.50%), sandy-loam (25%) and loamy (25%) soils. Both species prefer clayey-loam soils, as reported by other researchers (Vardar & Ahmet, 1965; Kutbay & K›l›nç, 1995). The pH of the soils supporting C. creticus and C. salviifolius varies between 6.80 and 7.92, and 7.19 and 151 A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia Table 1. Physical and chemical analysis of the soils of C. creticus. Loc. Sand % Clay % Silt % Texture pH Salts % CaCO3 % N% P% K% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 46.16 41.44 51.44 59.44 53.44 40.16 70.44 38.44 76.44 47.44 48.44 56.44 43.44 41.16. 33.16 68.44 49.16 35.16 31.44 29.84 30.56 26.56 20.56 24.56 29.84 23.56 35.56 9.56 18.86 19.56 19.56 24.56 26.84 32.84 13.56 18.84 36.84 30.56 24 28 22 20 22 30 6 26 14 34 32 24 32 32 34 18 32 28 38 Sandy-clayey-loam Clayey-loam Sandy-clayey-loam Sandy-clayey-loam Sandy-clayey-loam Clayey-loam Sandy-clayey-loam Clayey-loam Sandy-loam Loam Loam Sandy-loam Loam Loam Clayey-loam Sandy-loam Loam Clayey-loam Clayey-loam 7.55 7.67 7.65 7.64 7.77 7.77 7.45 7.58 7.75 7.35 7.21 7.75 7.85 7.15 6.80 7.92 7.35 7.42 7.56 0.045 0.038 0.047 0.032 0.030 0.044 0.045 0.055 0.037 0.065 0.043 0.037 0.035 0.043 0.120 0.0037 0.067 0.089 0.053 1.243 2.840 12.350 39.200 11.420 7.030 0.502 37.460 4.250 1.890 2.385 27.260 39.750 0.865 0.120 16.700 1.360 1.600 1.240 0.058 0.340 0.142 0.065 0.126 0.086 0.045 0.047 0.065 0.214 0.654 0.263 0.055 0.104 0.034 0.048 0.320 0.073 0.343 0.00004 0.00020 0.00004 0.00002 0.00004 0.00010 0.00011 0.00015 0.00046 0.00280 0.00014 0.00011 0.00002 0.00250 0.00380 0.00011 0.00180 0.00050 0.00011 0.025 0.062 0.074 0.046 0.076 0.015 0.023 0.025 0.039 0.035 0.065 0.024 0.031 0.067 0.030 0.020 0.019 0.010 0.033 Min. Max. Mean S.D. S.E. 6.80 7.92 7.54 0.277 0.063 0.0037 0.1200 0.0488 0.0244 0.0056 0.120 39.750 11.024 14.159 0.248 0.0340 0.6440 0.16221 0.15995 0.03670 0.00002 0.00380 0.00069 0.00114 0.00026 0.010 0.076 0.03789 0.02089 0.00479 Min.: Minimum, Max.: Maximum, S.D.: Standard Deviation, S.E.: Standard Error Table 2. Physical and chemical analysis of the soils of C. salviifolius. Loc. Sand % Clay % Silt % Texture pH Salts % CaCO3 % N% P% K% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 45.44 34.16 41.44 57.44 58.44 70.16 60.44 67.16 40.16 45.44 45.44 34.16 39.16 31.44 43.16 47.16 30.56 39.84 30.56 16.56 23.56 9.84 15.56 14.84 29.84 24.56 22.56 37.84 30.84 31.56 20.84 18.84 24 26 28 26 18 20 24 18 30 30 32 28 30 38 36 34 Sandy-clayey-loam Clayey-loam Clayey-loam Sandy-loam Sandy-clayey-loam Sandy-loam Sandy-loam Sandy-loam Clayey-loam Loam Loam Clayey-loam Clayey-loam Clayey-loam Loam Loam 7.45 7.40 7.67 7.84 7.64 7.40 7.80 7.92 7.19 7.60 7.74 7.46 7.42 7.56 7.40 7.75 0.031 0.055 0.038 0.042 0.032 0.041 0.033 0.037 0.036 0.047 0.030 0.218 0.089 0.053 0.065 0.058 1.218 2.865 2.840 34.240 39.200 30.080 26.400 16.700 2.640 18.240 38.250 18.910 1.600 1.240 1.420 4.53 0.066 0.898 0.340 0.115 0.065 0.158 0.265 0.048 0.624 0.223 0.092 0.086 0.073 0.343 0.320 0.064 0.00002 0.00120 0.00020 0.00012 0.00002 0.00064 0.00015 0.00011 0.00014 0.00080 0.00006 0.00410 0.00050 0.00011 0.00180 0.00040 0.023 0.047 0.062 0.051 0.046 0.039 0.029 0.023 0.064 0.032 0.037 0.058 0.010 0.033 0.019 0.004 Min. Max. Mean S.D. S.E. 7.19 7.92 7.64 0.3339 0.08335 0.030 0.218 0.05656 0.04576 0.01144 1.218 39.20 13.08581 13.88690 3.47172 0.048 0.898 0.23685 0.23562 0.06890 0.00002 0.00410 0.00065 0.00104 0.00026 0.004 0.064 0.03606 0.01789 0.00447 152 S. BAfiLAR, Y. DO⁄AN, H. H. MERT 7.92 respectively (Tables 1 and 2). Soil analysis data show that 15.78% of soils supporting C. creticus are neutral, 73.68% are slightly alkaline and 10.52% are moderately alkaline; for the soils of C. salviifolius, 6.15% are neutral, 75% are slightly alkaline and 18.75% are moderately alkaline (Jackson, 1958). A preference for slightly to moderately alkaline soils resembles the behaviour of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) distributed in the same region (Öztürk & Ataç, 1982). However, C. creticus has been reported to flourish on neutral soils as well (Kutbay & K›l›nç, 1995). The calcium carbonate content of the soils of C. creticus and C. salviifolius varies from 0.120-39.750% and 0.03-0.218% (Tables 1 and 2). Accordingly, 47.36% of C. creticus soils are poor, 10.52% are moderate, 5.26% are rich and 36.84% are very rich in calcium carbonate. Among C. salviifolius soils, 25% are poor, 25% are calcareous, and 50% are very rich in calcium carbonate (Scheffer & Schactschabel, 1956). In contrast, C. creticus has been reported to prefer noncalcareous soils (Kutbay & K›l›nç, 1995). The salinity values of C. creticus soils vary from 0.18 to 0.90% (Table 1). The soils are non-saline in general. Salinity values for C. salviifolius soils vary from 0.03 to 0.218% (Table 2), 93.75% being non-saline and 6.25% slightly saline (Anonymous, 1951). A comparison of our data with those of other researchers (Vardar & Ahmet, 1965; Öztürk & Ataç, 1982; Kutbay & K›l›nç, 1995; Mert et al., 1996) reveals that C. creticus and the other species (Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), P. lentiscus and Spartium junceum L. (Fabaceae) distributed in the same region occupy non-saline soils. Chemical Analysis of the Soils The nitrogen content of C. creticus soils varies from 0.034 to 0.065% (Table 1). Accordingly, 21.05% of the soils are poor, 31.58% are moderate, 15.79% are sufficient and 31.58% rich in nitrogen. Nitrogen content of C. salviifolius soils lies between 0.048 to 0.898% (Table 2), with 6.25% being poor, 37.50% moderate, 6.25% sufficient and 50% rich in nitrogen (Loue, 1968). However, according to Kutbay and K›l›ç (1995), C. creticus prefers rich nitrogenous soils. The phosphorus content of soils supporting C. creticus and C. salviifolius is given Tables 1 and 2. Some 94.75% of the C. creticus soils are very deficient and 5.25% deficient, 93.75% of C. salviifolius soils are very deficient and 6.25% deficient in phosphorus (Bingham, 1949). Similar findings are reported by other investigators (Mert et al., 1996; Kutbay, 1997). The soil potassium values for C. creticus and C. salviifolius are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Potassium values were 0.0100 to 0.0760% and 0.004 to 0.064%. The soils of both species are deficient in potassium (Pizer, 1967). Our results concur with those of earlier workers (Mert et al., 1996, Kutbay, 1997). Chemical Analysis of the Plants Chemical analysis of the aerial parts of C. creticus and C. salviifolius shows that nitrogen content was 0.8821.316%, and 0.644-1.232% respectively (Tables 3 and 4). The values of nitrogen were generally 0.2-6% (Kacar, 1972), as such our results lie within normal limits. Phosphorus values were 0.18-0.90% (Table 3) and 0.078-0.98% (Table 4). Limit values given for phosphorus are 0.01-1.0% (Johnson & Ulrich, 1959), and these fully cover our values too. The values of potassium content were 0.53-1.05% and 0.62-2.00% in C. creticus and C. salviifolius (Tables 3 and 4). This range fully coincides with the general values of 0.20-11.0% (Kacar, 1972). The calcium content of these species was 0.3202.240% (Table 3) and 0.4-1.71% (Table 4) respectively, Table 3. Chemical analysis of the plants of C. creticus. Loc. N% P% K% Ca % 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1.246 1.022 0.980 1.316 1.092 1.050 1.008 0.924 1.036 1.288 1.064 0.938 0.924 1.162 1.050 1.008 0.882 1.176 0.910 0.70 0.30 0.46 0.64 0.56 0.74 0.38 0.40 0.48 0.90 0.54 0.32 0.50 0.54 0.18 0.50 0.18 0.54 0.40 0.89 0.65 0.89 1.02 0.81 0.71 0.68 0.55 0.87 1.05 0.83 0.53 0.69 0.74 0.68 0.63 1.05 0.78 0.79 0.72 1.08 0.68 2.24 1.00 0.56 0.64 0.56 0.56 0.56 1.44 0.68 1.24 0.52 0.32 0.92 0.64 0.80 0.80 Min. Max. Mean S.D. S.E. 0.882 1.316 1.05663 0.12843 0.02946 0.18 0.90 0.48632 0.18160 0.04166 0.53 1.05 0.78105 0.15430 0.03540 0.32 2.24 0.84 0.43492 0.09978 153 A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia Table 4. Chemical analysis of the plants of C. salviifolius. Loc. N% P% K% Ca % 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 0.798 0.644 0.854 0.896 0.952 0.783 1.078 1.223 1.166 0.986 0.882 1.232 0.840 0.764 0.882 0.783 0.280 0.078 0.100 0.800 0.201 0.480 0.980 0.214 0.960 0.820 0.760 0.124 0.340 0.740 0.920 0.860 1.30 1.30 1.70 0.89 1.80 0.66 0.66 1.76 1.24 1.72 1.71 2.00 1.60 0.62 0.88 0.74 0.85 0.70 0.69 0.48 1.70 0.80 0.80 0.89 0.65 1.59 0.40 0.98 0.88 0.49 0.64 0.52 Min. Max. Mean S.D. S.E. 0.644 1.232 0.92269 0.17264 0.04316 0.078 0.980 0.55106 0.35719 0.08930 0.62 2.00 1.22375 0.44829 0.12207 0.40 1.71 0.816088 0.36553 0.09138 Table 5. which lies within the adequate limit of 0.93% (Chapman, 1967). Statistical Evaluation of the Soil and Plant Analysis Results The statistical evaluation of the results between the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, total soluble salts and calcium carbonate content of the soils and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium content of the plants showed that four relevant correlations are visible in the regression analysis; two of these are negative and two are positive correlations. The latter were observed between potassium and calcium, and calcium carbonate and calcium; the former between total soluble salts and calcium, and pH and calcium. No other relevant correlations were obtained. Regression curves and correlations coefficients showed that negative correlations exist between soil phosphorus and plant calcium (r2: 0.20, r: 0.44) (Table 5, Figure 1); and total soluble soil salts and plant calcium (r2: 0.17, r: 0.41) in C. creticus (Table 6, Fig. 2). However, a positive Regression analysis of soil phosphorus and plant calcium content in C. creticus. Linear Fit Summary of Fit Rsquare Root Mean Square Error Mean of Response Observations (or Sum Wgts) 0.201784 0.399836 0.84 19 Analysis of Variance Source Df Sum of Squares Mean Square F Ratio Model Error C Total 1 17 18 0.6870349 2.7177651 3.4048000 0.687035 0.159869 4.2975 Prob>F 0.0537 Estimate Std Error t Ratio Prob>ltl 0.9576535 -171.2962 0.10787 82.6304 8.88 -2.07 0.0000 0.0537 Parameter Estimates Term Intercept Soil Phosphorus Bivariate Variable Soil Phosphorus Plant Calcium 154 Mean Std Dev Correlation Signif. Prob Number 0.000687 0.84 0.001141 0.43492 -0.4492 0.0537 19 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 Plant Calcium Plant Calcium S. BAfiLAR, Y. DO⁄AN, H. H. MERT 1.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0000 0.0010 0.0020 0.0030 0.0040 0.00 Soil Phosphorus 0.02 Figure 1. Regression analysis graph of soil phosphorus and plant calcium in C. creticus. Table 6. Regression analysis of total soluble soil salts and plant calcium content in C. creticus. Figure 2. 0.07 0.05 Soluble Salts 0.10 0.12 Regression analysis graph of total soluble soil salts and plant calcium in C. creticus. Linear Fit Summary of Fit Rsquare Root Mean Square Error Mean of Response Observations (or Sum Wgts) 0.177857 0.405784 0.84 19 Analysis of Variance Source Df Sum of Squares Mean Square F Ratio Model Error C Total 1 17 18 0.6055680 2.7992320 3.4048000 0.605568 0.164661 3.6777 Prob>F 0.0721 Estimate Std Error t Ratio Prob>ltl 1.2074951 -7.518474 0.21305 3.92052 6.57 -1.92 0.0000 0.0721 Parameter Estimates Term Intercept Soil Salts Bivariate Variable Soil Salts Plant Calcium Mean Std Dev Correlation Signif. Prob Number 0.048879 0.84 0.024396 0.43492 -0.42173 0.0721 19 155 A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia In the related literature it was reported that there is an important relationship between soil phosphorus and plant calcium and between soil calcium and plant calcium Table 7. 2.0 Plant Calcium correlation exists between soil calcium carbonate and plant calcium (r2: 0.24, r: 0.48) in C. creticus (Table 7, Fig. 3). In C. salviifolius, a positive correlation between soil pH and plant calcium (r2: 0.22, r: 0.46) was obtained (Table 8, Fig. 4). Since the probability values of the total soluble salts in soil and plant calcium in C. creticus correlations were less than 0.05, the correlation coefficients and models were significant (‹kiz et al., 1996; McClave et al., 1998). Other correlations were very close to 0.05, but with a lower coefficient. The correlation exponents (r) show that relationships are weak. r2 expresses, in terms of percentage, changes in the plant caused by the variables in the soil. The fact that our findings for these percentages are low shows that the plant is malnourished by the infertile soil and that these affect the soil-plant relationship negatively. Other results showed neither positive nor negative correlations. 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Figure 3. Linear Fit Summary of Fit 0.242322 0.38955 0.84 19 Analysis of Variance Source Df Sum of Squares Mean Square F Ratio Model Error C Total 1 17 18 0.8250579 2.5797421 3.4048000 0.825058 0.151750 5.4370 Prob>F 0.0323 Estimate Std Error t Ratio Prob>ltl 0.6733103 0.01512 0.11444 0.00648 5.88 2.33 0.0000 0.0323 Parameter Estimates Term Intercept Soil CaCO3 Bivariate Variable Soil CaCO3 Plant Calcium 156 40 Regression analysis graph of soil calcium carbonate and plant calcium in C. creticus. Regression analysis of soil calcium carbonate and plant calcium content in C. creticus. Rsquare Root Mean Square Error Mean of Response Observations (or Sum Wgts) 35 Soluble CaCO3 Mean Std Dev Correlation Signif. Prob Number 11.02447 0.84 14.15973 0.43492 0.492262 0.0323 19 S. BAfiLAR, Y. DO⁄AN, H. H. MERT Table 8. Regression analysis of soil pH and plant calcium content in C. salviifolius. Linear Fit Summary of Fit Rsquare Root Mean Square Error Mean of Response Observations (or Sum Wgts) 0.221711 0.333788 0.816875 16 Analysis of Variance Source Df Sum of Squares Mean Square F Ratio Model Error C Total 1 14 15 0.4443405 1.5598032 2.0041437 0.444341 0.111415 3.9882 Prob>F 0.0656 Estimate Std Error t Ratio Prob>ltl -3.127312 0.5162548 1.97678 0.25851 -1.58 2.00 0.1360 0.0656 Parameter Estimates Term Intercept Soil pH Bivariate Variable Soil pH Plant Calcium Mean Std Dev Correlation Signif. Prob Number 7.64 0.816875 0.333387 0.365526 0.470862 0.0656 16 1.8 1.5 Plant Calcium 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.5 0.2 7.0 8.0 7.5 8.5 Soil pH Figure 4. Regression analysis graph of soil pH and plant calcium in C. salviifolius. (Walker & Mason, 1960; Bould, 1966). In our study, not as many statistically significant correlations between soil and plant were found. The reason could be that mineral substances in the field were washed away and, as a result, mineral substances were transported to the lower layers (Atalay, 1977). Being thin, the soil layer caused plants’ roots to not reach sufficient depths in the soils and, as a result, this caused the plants to be weak. For example, nitrogen in the soil was reported to become dense between 25 and 75 cm depending on the thickness of the soil layer (Atalay, 1977). A plant unable to reach this depth cannot absorb sufficient minerals from the soil. Lack of statistical relations between other elements and relatively low-level correlation coefficients of the determined relations showed that plants in the soil have difficulties in absorbing adequate amounts of minerals. Since some of our plants are phrygana members, our findings showed a parallelism with Çukur’s (1995) findings. It was discovered in a study carried out on different species that the deficiency of minerals in the soil 157 A Study on the Soil-Plant Interactions of Some Cistus L. Species Distributed in West Anatolia negatively affects plant growth (Bafllar & Mert, 1998). During our field excursions and observations in West Anatolia, it was found that C. creticus and C. salviifolius are distributed in a mixed form with other Cistus species together with Arbutus unedo L., A. andrachne L. (Ericaceae), Juniperus L. (Cupresseceae), Quercus coccifera L. (Fagaceae) and Pinus brutia Ten. (Pinaceae) (Davis, 1965). An analysis of soil and plant samples collected from 35 different localities in West Anatolia revealed that the soils preferred by these two species are clayey-loam, sandy-clayey-loam, sandy-loam, and loamy in texture, non-saline in salt content, and slightly to moderately alkaline. 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