Survey on the mineral elements in forages from areas of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil - Sodium and Potassium

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of sodium and potassium in 4 grasses - Colonião (Panicum maximum, Jack), Jaragua (Hyparrhemia rufa (Ness) Stapf), Pangola (Digitaria decumbens Stent) and Angolinha (Eriochloa poiystachya (H.B.K.) Hitchc.) - collected monthy at the municipal district of Brasilandia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The highest sodium level was found in Angolinha grass (66.6 ppm), which was significantly greater than those values obtained in Jaragua (20.4 ppm) and Coloniao (22.3 ppm) grasses. No significant differences were observed between Angolinha and Pangola (50.8 ppm) sodium levels. On the other hand, the potassium level was significantly higher in Colonião grass (2.5%) when compared with those found in Jaraguá (1.3%) and Pangola (1.5%) grasses. There was no difference between Colonião and Angolinha (2.1%) potassium levels. Further studies must be conducted to determine the minimum potassium requirement of ruminants and its availability.