Determination of Macro, Micro Element and Heavy Metal Contents of Astragalus Taxa Collected from Nature

The aim of the research is to determine the macro (Ca, Mg, P and K), micro (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Be) element and heavy metal (Al, Cr, Ni, Se and Cd) contents of some Astragalus taxa collected from nature. Nine Astragalus taxa (Astragalus gummifer, A. compactus, A. lineatus var. longidens, A. aureus, A. onobrychis, A. declinatus, A. lineatus var. lineatus, A. oocephalus subsp. stachyophorus, A. inereus) collected from the natural areas of Bingol province were used as the plant material of the research. Astragalus taxa were collected from the central villages of Bingol province in June 2018, during the flowering period of the plants. Macro, micro element and heavy metal contents of the collected and dried plant samples were determined with the help of NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma -Mass Spectometry) devices. As a result of the analysis, the average Ca content of Astragalus taxa was determined as % 1.63, Mg content % 0.36, P content % 0.27, K content % 1.49, Fe content 2436 mg kg-1, Mn content 153.7 mg kg-1, Cu content 84.5 mg kg-1, Zn content 14.08 mg kg-1, Be content 0.10 mg kg-1, Al content 2535 mg kg-1, Cr content 7.67 mg kg-1, Ni content 9.99 mg kg-1 and Se content 2.19 mg kg-1. In general, the highest Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Al, Cr and Ni contents were determined in A. declinatus, the highest P and K contents were determined in A. oocephalus subsp. stachyophorus, the highest Cu content was determined in A. cinearus, the highest Zn content was determined in A. lineatus var. longidens, the highest content Be was determined in A. gummifer and the highest Se content was determined in A. compactus. Cd content could not be detected in any Astragalus taxa. As a result of the study, it was concluded that Astragalus taxa, which are abundant in the natural flora of our country, can be used as a source of roughage in animal nutrition and can meet the macro and micro element needs of animals.