Little of the rangeland resources of Balochistan, Pakistan have been assessed and there is little to no information on how abiotic factors such as soil type and topography influence the nutritive value of native species. Leaf nitrogen concentrations in all species showed broadly similar patterns of change with season. In all species, non-protein nitrogen (NPN) accounted for more than 35-50% of total N. The effect of season on the concentration of phosphorus was highly significant. In all shrubs, there was similar response of concentration of Ca, Mg and K. There was a significant effect of season on the concentration of both total phenol and condensed tannins in all species.

Rangeland shrubs; mineral composition; phenolics; tannins; seasonal variation; Balochistan

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia