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PERIODIC EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM TRANSFER FROM SOIL AND FORAGE TO SMALL RUMINANTS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL STATION IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN¹*, M. ASHRAF²**, KAFEEL AHMAD¹ AND EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM³*

Abstract: The premier purpose of the present investigation was to appraise the impact of season and the sampling period, the transport of K from soils and forages to sheep grazing in the semi-arid region of Punjab. The ultimate aim was to enhance animal production by employing a balanced K supplementation, if necessary. The samples of soil, H₂O, feed, forage and animal (urine, faeces, milk and blood plasma) were taken eight times fortnightly during two seasons (winter and summer). During summer, K level in soil was found to be adequate for plants, while forage K was above the critical levels for ruminant requirements during both seasons. The plasma K levels were less than required levels in all classes of sheep during both seasons. Milk K concentrations showed no lactation period effect. The lactating sheep had higher faecal K during winter and the non-lactating sheep during summer than that in the male sheep, while urine contained higher K in the lactating as compared to that in the non-lactating sheep during summer and winter. Dietary sources showed no significant effect in enhancing the plasma K status of these animals.  Low plasma K may have been due to high excretion through faeces resulting from low absorption and availability through the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, K appraisal based on plasma concentration may be considered   inadequate mainly due to unavailability of this mineral from the dietary sources. It is concluded that high bio-available K supplementation is needed for increased animal productivity in this region.

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

²Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

³Department of Botany, Govt. Degree College Buffer Zone, Karachi-75850, Pakistan.

**Second affiliation: King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.