Manganese and Magnesium Status of Forage Grasses, and It’s Implications for Grazing Animals, Dareta Village, Zamfara, Nigeria

Forage mineral concentration is of considerable importance to livestock production. High concentrations of lead in the soil environment causes imbalance of mineral nutrients in growing plants. In most cases lead blocks the entry of cations (potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, and iron) and anions (NO3-) in the root system. The elevated levels of lead in soil and pastures reported in Zamfara, following mass acute lead poisoning crisis in the Northern Nigerian state informed this study. The forage concentrations of Manganese and Magnesium were investigated with respect to the nutrient requirement of the grazing ruminants in Dareta village. The analysis was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) while method validation was achieved using reference material, Lichen (IAEA-336). Based on the data recorded, it was concluded that the concentration of these two minerals varied among different pastures. The difference was statistically significant at 95% confidence level. Manganese concentration in the forage ranged from 2.89mg/kg to 137.00mg/kg dry weight in different pastures and Magnesium from 22.84mg/kg to 62.59mg /kg dry weight. The concentration of Manganese and Magnesium determined in this study are significantly lower than their recommended minimum concentrations (critical levels) in pasture for grazing animals. The implications of these findings for grazing animals are fully discussed.