Mineral Profile in Soil and Forages of Rangelands of the Huasteca Potosina, Mexico

Mineral imbalances in soils and forages may cause suboptimal production of forage biomass and livestock. Objective: To determine the concentrations of minerals in soil and forage during the dry and wet seasons in the Huasteca Potosina. Materials and Methods: Samples from the soil and the main forage species consumed by livestock were collected in 17 production units (PU). The P content in soil and forage was determined by colorimetry, while the Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Co content was established by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and flame photometry was used to calculate Na and K content. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance; the effect of PU, season, and interactions was considered as fixed effect. Means were compared using Tukey’s test. Results and Discussion: P and Cu content was below the minimum critical level required for adequate plant growth. Furthermore, the P, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Co, and Zn concentration in forage failed to meet the minimum requirements for livestock. Conclusions: The mineral imbalances in the grazing areas and the forages do not meet the minimum mineral requirements of dual-purpose cattle in the Huasteca Potosina.