Assessment of Micronutrients Status in Soil, Plants and Small Ruminants in Coastal Saline Zone of West Bengal Nasker M., Mondal P., Rajendran D.*, Biswas P. Department of Animal Nutrition West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences Kolkata-700 037, India *Reprint request: Dr. D. Rajendran, Tel: +91-33-25569234; Fax: +91-33-25571986; E-mail: rajnutri@yahoo.com
Abstract A study was carried out to assess micronutrients status of soil, plants and blood samples of small ruminants in coastal saline zone of West Bengal. Extractable P content of soil was below the critical level. However, micro mineral viz., Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn contents were higher than the critical level. Commonly available green grasses of coastal saline zone were doob (Cynodon dactylon), hybrid napier (Pennisetum spp.) and mutha (Eupatorium odoratum) grasses. Among the grasses, Cynodon dactylon and Pennisetum spp. were moderate to good source of Ca, Cu, Zn and Mn and very good source of Fe. However, Eupatorium odoratum was deficient in Cu and Zn and was moderate to optimum source of other nutrients screened. Tree leaves like babul (Acacia nilotica), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), pipul (Ficus religiosa), plantain (Musa paradisica), siris (Albizia lebbeck) and subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) contained higher levels of Ca, Cu, Zn and Fe. However, P and Mn content in tree leaves were deficient. In contrast, maize grain contained low level of Ca, Cu and Mn and moderate level of P and Zn and very high level of Fe. Rice bran and Mustard oil cake were moderate to very good source of all the macro and micro minerals screened. Paddy straw had low level of most of the micronutrients screened except iron and manganese. Over all mean haemoglobin, plasma Fe and Zn content in sheep and goat were within the normal limit. Similarly, plasma Ca, P, Mn and Cu contents in goat also were within the normal range of critical level. However, plasma Ca, P, Cu and Mn contents in sheep were below the critical level. The experimental survey showed that the most of the micronutrients (except P) status in tree leaves were moderate to optimal level which is reflected in the blood picture of goat. However, most of the green grasses were deficient in certain minerals, which also reflected in plasma of sheep. Top Key words Mineral, Soil, Forage, Feed, Small ruminants. Top |