An Investigation About Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. From Olur District (Erzurum)

Abstract

Olur district (Erzurum) province has a very favorable price for beekeping in terms of geographical structure and it’s flora. This study was carried out in order to determine the developmental characteristics of the bee plant and the relationship and visit characteristics of the bees with the bee plant by taking measurements from bee plant cultivated in three different locations in the district center of Olur and in Kekikli and Bozdoğan villages of this district. In the study, the numbers of flower clusters per 1 m2 area were determined according to the number of flower buds in the area, flower colors, the number of bees visiting the flowers in the area of 1 m2 in 5 minutes, the duration of flowers in the bees and the plant height. According to the results of the study, it was determined that the number of flower clusters in 1 m2 area increased with increasing height and the best result was obtained from Kekikli village. It was determined that the number of bees visiting the flowers in the area of 1 m2 in 5 minutes decreases as the height increases. For this reason, in the center of Olur, it was noted that the number of bees visiting the flowers in the area of 1 m2 in 5 minutes was the highest value. It was determined that the duration of the bees in the flowers was between 40 and 70 seconds for all three places. As a result of the measurements in all three places; it was noted that the number of flower clusters increased due to the increase in length of the plant. In addition, the relationship between bees and bee plant was determined by obtaining data in terms of beekeeping activities and flowering period of the bee plant cultivated in the study areas. The topics covered in this context were dealt with along with our study in Erzurum for the first time and we were not able to find adequate studies related to applications in other cities.

Key words: Phacelia tanacetifolia, Beeekeping, Olur, Kekikli, Bozdoğan.