Sulphur Analysis in Soils of Peripheries of Power Plants of Turkey

Abstract

Within borders of Mugla district in Southwestern Turkey, there are three power plants operating called Yatagan, Yenikoy and Kemerkoy. These plants in which coal with low calorie and high sulphur content are used have been on the agenda of Turkey for long time, since they have been causing some environmental problems. Source of the claims are acid rains and these three power plans are indicated as major reason in distribution of natural plant cover and in product lost in agriculture. Within last 3 years, frequent but local forest deaths were recorded in forests of the region. These are Red pine (Pinus brutia Ten) forests. One of the major indicators of acid rain is increasing in amount of sulphur within soil. In our survey, lots of soil sample were taken form the region with priority of the sites where the deaths in trees were observed. Samples were analyzed in Department of Soil, Faculty of Agriculture Ege University. Findings of the study have revealed that sulphur levels are not high in the soils of the region and even it is under the normal level at some localities. For this reason, it has been concluded that the subject should be considered with different perspectives.