PERIODIC EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM TRANSFER FROM SOIL AND FORAGE TO SMALL RUMINANTS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL STATION IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The premier purpose of the present investigation was to appraise the impact of season and the sampling period, the transport of K from soils and forages to sheep grazing in the semi-arid region of Punjab. The ultimate aim was to enhance animal production by employing a balanced K supplementation, if necessary. The samples of soil, H2O, feed, forage and animal (urine, faeces, milk and blood plasma) were taken eight times fortnightly during two seasons (winter and summer). During summer, K level in soil was found to be adequate for plants, while forage K was above the critical levels for ruminant requirements during both seasons. The plasma K levels were less than required levels in all classes of sheep during both seasons. Milk K concentrations showed no lactation period effect. The lactating sheep had higher faecal K during winter and the non-lactating sheep during summer than that in the male sheep, while urine contained higher K in the lactating as compared to that in the non-lactating sheep during summer and winter. Dietary sources showed no significant effect in enhancing the plasma K status of these animals. Low plasma K may have been due to high excretion through faeces resulting from low absorption and availability through the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, K appraisal based on plasma concentration may be considered inadequate mainly due to unavailability of this mineral from the dietary sources. It is concluded that high bio-available K supplementation is needed for increased animal productivity in this region.