Relationship of mineral elements in sheep grazing in the highland agro-ecosystem

Abstract

Objective: Minerals are one of the important nutrients for supporting the growth of sheep grazing in the highland, northwest of China. The experiment was conducted to investigate the relationship of both macro and micro minerals in sheep grazing in the highlands of six districts located in the Qilian Mountain of China. Methods: Samples of herbage (n = 240) and soil (n = 240) were collected at random in a "W" shape across the area designated for harvesting from 24 farms, where the sheep commonly graze in October (winter) for mineral analyses. In addition, serum samples were taken via jugular vein from 20 sheep per farm from 24 farms (n = 480 samples in total) for serum mine rals analyses. Mean values of macro and micro minerals were statistically compared among districts and the correlations among soilplantanimal were statistically analyzed and cor relations were regressed, as well. Results: The results revealed that there were variations for both macro and micro minerals among districts. Statistical analysis of the correlation coefficients between herbage and sheep were significantly different for most of the minerals but not for P, Cu, and Se. Many correlation regression coefficients were found significantly different among minerals of herbage, soil, and sheep serum especially those of K, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn (between herbage and sheep serum), and Fe and Mn (between herbage and soil), Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn (between soil and sheep serum), respectively. The regression coefficient equations derived under this experiment for prediction of Ca (R 2 = 0.618), K (R 2 = 0.803), Mg (R 2 = 0.767), Na (R 2 = 0.670), Fe (R 2 = 0.865), Zn (R 2 = 0.950), Mn (R 2 = 0.936), and Se (R 2 = 0.630), resulted in significant R 2 values. Conclusion: It is inferred that the winter herbage minerals in all the districts were below the recommended levels for macro minerals which indicated there would be some mineral de ficiencies in sheep grazing the herbage in these regions. Supplemental minerals may therefore play an important role in balancing the minerals available from the herbage in winter and would lead to increased productivity in sheep on the highland areas of China. These findings could be potentially applied to the other regions for improving the livestock productivity.

The Content of Macro- and Micro Minerals in the Sward of Different Types of Semi-Natural Meadows of Temperate Climate in SE Poland

“…These values were similar to those obtained for grasses (13.4 g kg −1 DM) and herbs (15.0 g kg −1 DM) and much lower than for legumes (31.6 g kg -1 DM) found in meadows of northern Europe [6]. P content in the sward (1.7-2.5 g kg −1 DM) obtained in the present work was similar to the average for the sward of meadows of Dynowskie Foothills SE Poland (2.1 g kg −1 DM) [7] and grass and legumes of Denmark meadows (2.5-2.7 g kg −1 DM), while lower than for meadow herbs of Denmark (3.4 g kg -1 DM) [6] and significantly higher than for mountain meadows of NE China (0.78 g kg −1 DM) [8]. Other studies have shown that P concentration in plants increases with increasing grazing intensity [39].…”

“…K content (11.5-19.8 g kg −1 DM) obtained in the study was close to the average for the sward of Dynowskie Foothills meadow communities (16.0 g kg −1 DM) [7], lower than for grasses (24.7 g kg −1 DM), legumes (24.5 g kg −1 DM) and herbs (30.5 g kg −1 DM) of Denmark meadows [6] and much higher than for the mountain meadows of NE China (3.48 g kg −1 DM) [8]. Mg content (1.4-2.5 g kg −1 DM) obtained in the current study was similar to the average for the sward of Dynowskie Foothills meadow communities (2.3 g kg -1 DM) [7], higher than for grasses (1.3 g kg −1 DM), lower than for legumes (3.0 g kg −1 DM) and herbs (3.3 g kg −1 DM) of Denmark meadows [6] and similar in the lower range to mountain meadows of NE China (1.49 g kg -1 DM) [8]. Such differences in the content of elements in the sward of meadows of SE Poland, Denmark and mountain meadows of NE China may result from different climatic conditions, which are the mildest in Denmark and the harshest in the mountains of NE China.…”

“…Grasses are a basic component of the sward of seminatural meadows and pastures, however, as the grass research shows, they contain less macro-and micro minerals than legumes and herbs [6,7]. Studies conducted to date on the mineral composition of the sward usually treated meadow vegetation without dividing it into distinct meadow types [8][9][10] or determined element contents for individual species of meadow plants [6,[11][12][13]. Seminatural meadows and pastures are characterized by a particularly rich floristic composition delimiting meadow belonging to a particular type.…”

“…Large differences resulted primarily from different plant species; composition forming a given meadow community and not the content of these elements in the soil. The results can be applied to the proper management of farms, especially organic ones.Available research results indicate differences in the nutrient content of the sward depending on the season of the year [8], and, in particular, on the amount of precipitation, and thus soil water content [14,15]. Therefore, the assessment of the standardized precipitation and evaporation index is important in grassland management [16].…”

Biofortification of Forage Peas with Combined Application of Selenium and Zinc Under Mediterranean Conditions

“…Forage feeding can provide livestock most of its carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements (Suttle 2010). Mineral content in herbage is clearly linked to their concentration in the soil where plants have been grown and to the capacity of the different plant species to uptake and accumulate them into the edible parts (Fan et al 2020). Among the essential minerals for animals, most of them are required in so tiny amounts or are so abundant into soil that plants fulfill their requirements easily.…”