Zafar Iqbal Khan

Seasonal Variation of Trace Elements in a Semiarid Veld Pasture

Abstract A two‐seasonal study was conducted to determine the trace mineral status of goats grazing forages and soils in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Soil and forage samples were collected fortnightly for two seasons. Sampling period effects were found in soil copper, zinc, and selenium, and all forage minerals except selenium were affected by sampling times. Seasonal effects were observed in iron, manganese, and selenium for soils and in copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium for forages. All soil mineral levels except cobalt and selenium were found to be above critical levels and likely to be adequate for normal growth of plants growing therein, whereas soil cobalt and selenium were severely deficient during both seasons. The levels of iron, zinc, cobalt, and selenium in soil were higher and copper and manganese were lower during winter than during summer. Forages contained marginal to deficient levels of cobalt during the winter, copper and selenium during the summer, and moderately deficient levels of iron and severely deficient levels of zinc, manganese, and cobalt during the summer. Forage copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium during winter were found to be adequate for the requirements of ruminants. Consequently grazing animals at this location need continued mineral supplementation of these elements to prevent deficiency diseases and to support optimum animal productivity. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R‐10513.