Potential boron pollution in surface water, crop, and soil in the lower Buyuk Menderes Basin

In the Buyuk Menderes River, high concentrations of boron are found. Since this water is used for irrigation, boron accumulates in the soil and causes negative impacts in the crops cultivated in this area. In this study, the relation between the amount of boron in the river and its impacts to soil and crops, particularly citrus trees, which are oversensitive to boron element, have been researched. This relation shows that the measured high concentration of boron in the river has to be considered as an important pollution with a threat to the irrigation depended forms of agriculture. In this paper a relation is also found between the measured concentration in the river and the activities of the Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant. Geothermal hot wastewater of this plant contains high boron concentration and discharges directly into the Buyuk Menderes River. This discharge is considered as the main source of Boron in the Buyuk Menderes Basin.