Elemental analysis of ten plant species at three phenological stages.

Livestock rearing is a common practice in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati by the locals to earn their livelihood. Low productivity due to poor health of livestock is major consideration in the study area. In order to know whether this low productivity and poor health might be due to poor quality of forage, ten plant species were analyzed for micro mineral quantification at three phenological stages. Mineral compositions of plants are used to diagnose probable deficiencies in food and forage and nutritional status of plants. Comparison among at vegetative stage of test species and micro nutrients showed that the amount of manganese was found high (64.4mg & &Kg(-1)) in Chrozophora obliqua. Comparison among at reproductive and post reproductive stages of test species and micro nutrients pointed out that the amount of nickel was found high (67.24mg & Kg(-1)) and (80.4mg & Kg(-1)) respectively in Vitex trifolia. It is concluded that micro-minerals concentrations available in these forage plants to the grazing livestock were very low, hence this may be, one of the causes responsible for the pitiable health and productivity of the grazing animals in investigated area.