Journal of Rangeland

The objectives of this study were to estimate the six macro elements contents Ca, Mg, P, Cl, Na and K in eight species of rangeland forbs Prangus uloptera Medicago sativa, Lotus goeblia, Trifolium montanum, Sanguisorba minor, Stachys inflate, Melilotus officinalis and Ferula ovina used by sheep in Taleghan rangelands sampled in vegetative, flowering and seeding stages. The amount of measured elements in plant species were compared using t-test with a fixed value to ewes and rams need of Fashandi race. The amount of P (3/88 to 12/35 g/kg), Ca (4/05 to 12/88 g/kg), K (12/2 to 29/9 g/kg) and Cl (4/09 to 10/87 g/kg) obtained from plant species at three phenological stages were higher than ewes and rams requirementsd of Fashandi race. For most plant species the Mg (0/54 to 2/12 g/kg) deficiency was observed, and also Na (0/16 to 0/41 g/kg) content of all species at three phenological stages was lower than required level for ewes and rams of Fashandi race. Thus because of critical role of these two elements in livestock vital activities, it is suggested to compensate the deficit of these elements, food supplements should be used (for Na and Mg deficiency using salt and Mg oxide is useful).