Mineral content of the herbage material in pastures ofMt. Varnoudas NW Greece
¹ Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Technological Educational Institute
of Western Macedonia, Terma Kontopoulou, 53100 Florina, Greece; e-mail:
dkklinon@otenet.gr
²Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail: fchatzitheo@gmail.com
Abstract:
The effects of growing season and altitudinal zone on herbage production and mineral concentration (K, Na, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn Mn), were studied in herbage samples harvested from pastures in north-western Greece. Herbage production was affected (P<0.001) by the harvest month but was not affected by altitudinal zone and “month x altitude” interaction. Harvest month had significant influence (P<0.001) on Mg, Fe, and Zn contents as well as (P<0.05) on Na content. Only the trace elements were affected (P<0.05) by the altitudinal zone. The “month x altitude” interaction had no affect on either macro minerals or trace element concentration. Some of the minerals studied (P, Fe, Zn and Mn) were seasonally deficient for beef cattle while Na was deficient for both cattle and sheep in all altitudinal zones. The remainder of the minerals met the nutrient requirements of grazing animals.
Key words:
Altitude, grazing season, minerals, pastures