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MINERAL COMPOSITION OF SOME RANGE GRASSES AND SHRUBS FROM HARBOI RANGELAND KALAT, PAKISTAN

FARRUKH HUSSAIN¹ AND MUFAKHIRAH JAN DURRANI²

Abstract: The mineral composition including K, P, Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn of some grasses and shrubs from Harboi rangeland, Kalat, Balochistan was analysed at three phenological stages. There were non-significant differences between grasses and shrubs in K, P, Fe and Zn contents. The concentration of Cu was higher in shrubs than grasses while Mn was higher in grasses than shrubs. The differences in the K, P, Mn, Fe and Zn were insignificant among the various phenological stages. Generally K and Fe were sufficient while P and Zn were deficient in most of the analysed forage plants. The concentration of Cu was mostly within the toxic range for livestock. The mineral concentration of forage plants generally increased/ decreased inconsistently with the advancing phenological growth stages in most plants. Across all the grazing seasons the forage for sheep and goats was generally deficient in one or other mineral at some stage for growth and maintenance. It is concluded that the poor livestock productivity in Harboi rangeland is partially due to insufficient amount of mineral efficient forage. It is suggested that fertilization of soil and vegetation with additional source of commercial fertilizers will not only improve the over all vegetation cover but also improve the health and productivity of grazing animals and other wild life in this rangeland.

¹Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

²Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan