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EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE SUGARS IN PLANT SPECIES INDIGENOUS TO SOONE VALLEY (PUNJAB) PAKISTAN

KAFEEL AHMAD^1*, ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN¹, ZAHID ALI SHAH¹, MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM², IRFAN MUSTAFA¹ AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM^3*

Abstract: Soone Valley (Salt Range) in Pakistan is a habitat of a large number of flora and fauna. Various grasses and leguminous species are indigenous to this valley and are grazed by ruminants. Leguminous plant species were characterized for carbohydrates, starch and total sugar contents in pods and leaves as well. The data obtained after analysis showed that carbohydrates ranged from 54.37 to 64.43; starch contents varied from 30.85 to 40.55 mg g^–1 dry weight in leaves while it ranged from 61.65 to 69.09 and 32.55 to 36.11 mg g^–1 in pods respectively. Overall values of soluble sugars range from 23.88 to 31.42 in leaves and 35.65 to 40.70 in pods in species under investigation in different pastures. Based on observation recorded for total soluble sugars estimation, it was concluded that the forage plant species studied were found to be palatable and had significant amount of those elements required for the needs of livestock reared in that specific rangeland. The results of the present investigation provide key information regarding sufficient amount of sugars in forages, which seems to be excellent. Furthermore, investigations for toxicosis, if any of sugars on grazing livestock of the range are urgently needed.

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.

²University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.

³Public Private Partnership Unit (PPPU), Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi-74200, Pakistan.