PJB-2009-9
DETERMINATION OF FORAGE CONCENTRATIONS OF LEAD, NICKEL AND CHROMIUM IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF GRAZING RUMINANTS IN THE SALT RANGE, PAKISTAN
KAFEEL AHMAD1*, ZAFAR IQBAL KHAN1, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF2, EHSAN ELAHI VALEEM3*, ZAHID ALI SHAH1 AND L. R. MCDOWELL4
Abstract
Ruminants are of central to livestock production system in Pakistan and for livestock grazing, forage mineral concentration is of considerable importance. The forage concentrations of Pb, Ni and Cr were investigated with respect to the nutrient requirement of the grazing ruminants in the Soone Valley located within the Salt Range, Punjab, Pakistan. Based on the data recorded, it was concluded that the concentration of these three minerals varied among different pastures and even in different plant parts. The Pb concentration in the leaves ranged from 0.034 to 0.069 mg g-1 in different pastures, while in pods it ranged from 0.040 to 0.065 mg g-1. The leaf Cr varied from 0.156 to 0.285 mg g-1 and in pods it was from 0.166 to 0.223 mg g-1 .The leaf Ni concentration ranged from 0.030 to 0.068 and that in pods from 0.037 to 0.084 mg g-1. The concentrations of Pb, Ni and Cr observed in the forage from Salt Range are significantly higher than their critical levels already known in the literature. Thus, these forage may cause toxicosis problems in animals grazing the area.
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