Mineral content in soils and pasture grasses at ASAS farm, Iringa, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
1998
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Veterinary Journal
Abstract
The assessment of mineral content in soil and pasture grasses was carried out in Iringa Tanzania to establish the existence of any particular mineral deficiency or excess on the farm. The following levels of soil minerals, sodium (Na): 2.28% and 3.3Q%; potassium (K): 0.47% and 0.36%; calcium (Ca): 2.26% and 5.2%; magnesium (Mg): 0.61% and 1.41%; manganese (Mn): 56.8 and 42.6 ppm; copper (Cu): 1.63 and 2.19 ppm and iron (Fe): 130 and 120 ppm were observed during the dry and wet season respectively. These were considered to be adequate sources for grazing animals. Soil zinc (Zn) was marginal in dry season (1.25 ppm) but was below critical levels (0.23 ppm) in wet season. In case of pasture grasses the following minerals were adequate in dry and wet season respectively, potassium (K) (0.67% and 1.89%); Na (0.13% and 0.35%); Ca (0.38% and 0.64%); Mn (93.7 and 87.8 ppm) and Fe (400 and 450 ppm). Whereas Cu (6.8 and 7.6 ppm), Zn (19.2 and 23.8 ppm) and Mg (0.15% and 0.17%) were below critical levels in dry and wet season respectively. Pasture phosphorous (P) was below critical levels (0.18%) in wet season but high in dry season (0.31%). The concentration of minerals in the soil did not correspond well with the mineral concentration in pastures. It was recommended to analyse the mineral concentrations in the animal tissues to ascertain the mineral status in the farm so as to establish a strategy for mineral supplementation
Description
The assessment of mineral content in soil and pasture grasses was carried out in Iringa Tanzania to establish the existence of any particular mineral deficiency or excess on the farm. The following levels of soil minerals, sodium (Na): 2.28% and 3.3 Q%; potassium (K): 0.47% and 0.36%; calcium (Ca): 2.26% and 5.2%; magnesium (Mg): 0.61% and 1.41%; manganese (Mn): 56.8 and 42.6 ppm; copper (Cu): 1.63 and 2.19 ppm and iron (Fe): 130 and 120 ppm were observed during the dry and wet season respectively. These were considered to be adequate sources for grazing animals. Soil zinc (Zn) was marginal in dry season (1.25 ppm) but was below critical levels (0.23 ppm) in wet season. In case of pasture grasses the following minerals were adequate in dry and wet season respectively, potassium (K)(0.67% and 1.89%); Na (0.13% and 0.35%); Ca (0.38% and 0.64%); Mn (93.7 and 87.8 ppm) and Fe (400 and …
Keywords
Nutrition, Defficiency, Trace elements
Citation
https://tvj.sua.ac.tz/vet2/index.php/TVJ/article/view/448.