MONTHLY VARIATION OF FORAGE AND SOIL MINERALS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA .2. TRACE MINERALS

A two-year study was conducted to determine the trace mineral status of cattle grazing forages (bahiagrass) and soils on a ranch in central Florida. Forage and soil samples were collected every month for two years. Month effect (P < 0.05) on soil trace mineral concentrations were observed in manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in years 1 and 2, and in copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) only in year 2. All soil trace minerals studied showed higher (P < 0.05) concentrations in year 2. Month differences (P < 0.05) in forage trace mineral concentrations were found in cobalt (Co), Cu, Fe, Mn, molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and Zn. The majority of forage trace minerals were higher in spring-summer months. Year means were similar (P > 0.05) in forage trace mineral concentrations. Few and low correlation coefficients were observed between and within soil and forage trace minerals concentrations. Percentages of total forage collected with trace minerals below critical values (in parentheses) and suggestive of deficiency were as follows: in forage, Co (0.1 ppm), 93%; Cu (8 ppm), 98%; Fe (50 ppm), 75%; Mn (40 ppm), 41%; Mo (> 6 ppm), 0%; Se (0.2 ppm), 98%; and Zn (25 ppm), 84%; in soil, Cu (0.3 ppm), 77%; Fe (2.5 ppm), 7%; Mn (5 ppm), 91%; and Zn (1.5 ppm), 53%.