Mineral contents of some dominant halophyte range plants in desert areas of Sabzevar

Determination of nutritive substances of forage and deficiencies diagnosis assist managers to improve nutrition of ruminants in rangelands.. Nutrition experts believe that deficiency of protein of grains and low energy of woody substances and imbalance of mineral elements of range forage are among the most limiting factor range animal nutrition.Magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus content of dominant and halophyte shrubs of Salsola arbuscula, Salsola richteri, Halothamnus glauca, Seidlitzia rosmarinus species at three phenological stages: vegetative, full flowering and seed dissemination in desert rangeland of Sabzevar was investigated. Samples were taken to laboratory and mineral elements of them were measured.Comparison of mineral elements with the requirement of ruminant showed that the P was lower than its requirement in all three phenological stages. The highest contents of calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and ash and the least value of potassium belonged to Seidlitzia rosmarinus.