The composition of two macro-minerals (Ca and Na) was examined in soil and forages in two fields of District Sargodha, Pakistan. During winter and summer season, soil and forage samples were collected. In both seasons, Na was sufficient in soil and forages. As compared to the winter season, the Na and Ca levels in soil were considerably higher in summer season. In forages, the level of Ca was deficient than the level which is essential for livestock growth. In the pastures, grazing livestock may be deficient in these minerals as these pastures are not supplying sufficient minerals to the ruminants grazing therein. Supplementation of minerals is necessary to prevent the mineral imbalances and deficiency diseases in grazing livestock.
Mineral Composition; Soil; Forage; Livestock1. INTRODUCTION
For animals, the potential and basic constituents of food are plants, having high nutritional values and plays vital role in determining the human and animal’s health. Under low input conditions, the herbs are the main source of supplying nutrients to grazing animals. The concentration of minerals considerably varies among species for livestock from toxic to inadequate [1]. Agricultural and natural forage consequences are chief source of providing minerals grazing animals in several regions of the world. The production of animals via feed depends on amount consumed by livestock and to which extent it meets the requirement of energy, vitamins, minerals and proteins [2]. The ruminants mostly feed on native grasses in dry regions, due to which they exposed to threat of mineral toxicity or deficiency [3,4]. For environmental and botanical purposes, the mineral analysis of plant is essential. In order to investigate the mineral requirement of ruminants and environmental contamination, the mineral uptake, especially of trace minerals can give information [5-7]. Minerals are deposited on surface of plants either through polluted areas or absorbed from soil. In many regions of world, alternative season’s affects the mineral deposition of forage, which indirectly affects the grazing animals [8-10]. By prosperous reproductive programs, Seasonal forage minerals concentrations constancy could be attained [11]. It is necessary to determine the mineral contents of the new varieties of forages as these are the chief source of mineral for grazing animals [12] since the minerals are transferred to grazing animals from soil via forages.
The objectives of current study were to analyze the composition of macro-minerals (Ca and Na) in soil and forages and to determine where, when and to which extent the mineral problems occur as well as to ascertain the variations in minerals composition during winter and summer season in semi-arid region of Pakistan. This Knowledge will help to understand the mineral requirements of grazing ruminants in Pakistan and other Asian countries with similar ecological and climatic conditions.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research was conducted to determine the influence of sampling intervals on soil and forages mineral concentration. The samples of soil and forages were collected from different grazing places of District Sargodha, located at 32˚08'00''N and 73˚7'00''E, Punjab, Pakistan. The average rainfall is 180 to 200 mm in this district. At this ranch, all the pastures under natural condition are a source of agricultural production. The distance between experimental sites commonly called as feeding sites or units was 5 km.
Forages and soil sampling was done six times: Three times, both in winter and summer season. Samples were collected very carefully, plastic gloves and clipped using steel scissors. Composite soil samples were collected under the forage using auger at the depth of 0 - 20 cm. From each grazing pasture area, the sample of forages and soil were collected from four random places [13]. Samples of forages and soil were dried in an oven at 60˚C and ground in small particles for chemical analysis, using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION3.1. Soil Sodium
The mean soil Na concentration was 119.7 - 261.35 mg/kg. In winter season, the soil Na level was lowest and in summer season was highest which ranged from 136.1 - 251.4 mg/kg. At site 1, the Na level was greater than those noticed at site 2. During the month of September, the Na contents were the highest and the lowest during the month of August in summer while the in February, highest value were found and lowest in January in winter. In soil, the Na concentration increased from July to March (Figure 1). The Na concentration in soil was well over the 62 mg/kg of critical level recorded in literature [14]. Khan et al. [10] noticed the high Na concentration in soil while working on similar research in south western Punjab, Pakistan. The concentration of Na noticed in present research was dissimilar to the values reported by different researchers in the world [15-17]. This study concluded that soil Na concentration was well over the critical level, thus there is no need of adding fertilizers in soil.
3.2. Forage Sodium
The mean values of Na concentration in forage ranged from 10.05 - 140.20 mg/kg. In Parthenium hysterodhorus, the Na level was highest whereas in Eragrostis pilosa, the Na level was lowest. The higher concentration of Na in summer season and lower concentration in winter season is shown in Figure 2. In both seasons, Na showed irregular pattern of increase or decrease. The Na concentration recorded in current research was over the 0.06 percent of critical level recommended by NRC [18]. Our findings disagree with the former researches who noticed lower concentration of Na in forage in different regions [19-21]. Results concluded that it is not necessary to add Na+ supplements (Figure 2).
3.3. Soil Calcium
The means values of Ca showed variations between seasons. Ca level abruptly increased or decreased with sampling periods and at site 1, was 112.8 - 250.6 mg/kg and was 103.2 - 254.7 mg/kg at site 2. The Ca level in the month of January and March was lower at site-I and site-II. In all samples of soil, the mean Ca level was well above the 72 mg/kg of critical level reported by Rhue & Kidder [22]. The Ca level recorded in our findings was similar to the 250 ppm of critical level recommended by Adams & Hartoz [23]. NRA [24] & McDowell recommended that the Ca appropriate for forages and livestock was 0.35 % and 0.30%. Our results concluded that the Ca level was lower in winter season than those observed in summer season. As a result, there was no need of supplementing the soil with synthetic fertilizers for forages (Figure 3).
3.4. Calcium Forage
The Ca level was in range of 0.68 - 5.34 mg/kg in summer and in winter was 0.05 - 7.07 mg/kg. In Eragrostis pilosa, the level of Ca was lower while in Dactyloctenium aegyptium, the Ca level was higher. In all sampling periods, an abrupt change was observed in Ca level in forage. Except Dactyloctenium aegyptium, the observed Ca level in all forages was lower. In current study, it could be implicated that minerals level including Ca were high in winter season. The Ca level in forage is influenced by yield level, forage type, age factor, animal type, forage parts on which animals feed [6,25-27]. The
permissible level of Ca forage was 2 - 6 g/kg as recommended by [6,28,29]. The Ca level observed in present study was lower than the level of 2.5 g/kg demonstrated by Skyes & Field [29]. As compared to other animals, the more Ca level is essential for lactating animals. Comparable to older animals, young animals need high level of Ca due to higher growth factor. Our results concluded that, in all forage species, Ca level was below the requirements of ruminants, so Ca deficiency could be fulfilled by adding fertilizers (Figure 4).
4. CONCLUSION
It is necessary to determine the mineral contents of the new varieties of forages as these are the chief source of mineral for grazing animals since the minerals are transferred from soil to grazing animals via forages growing therein. It is concluded that grazing ruminants may deficient in these minerals as these pastures are not supplying sufficient minerals to the ruminants grazing therein. Supplementation of minerals is necessary to prevent the mineral imbalances and deficiency diseases in grazing livestock
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