The Natural Forages of Northern Nigeria I. Nitrogen and Mineral composition of Grasses and Browse from the Northern Guinea Savanna and Standing Hays from the different Savanna Zones

Abstract

THE mineral status of nine native grass species and ten browse species from the Northern Guinea Savanna Vegetation was investigated together with the mineral Composition of standing hays from Daura and Kano areas of the Sudan Savanna, Bauchi ranch of the sub-Sudan, Samaru (Shika Kadama) of the Northern Guinea Savanna and Jos area of the Plateau vegetation, in Northern Nigeria. All forage types (grasses, browse and standing hays) which were sampled in April of 1975 were analysed for nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). The grass species included: Andropogon gayanus, A. ascinodis, Brachiaria jubata, Cynodon dactylon, Hyparthelia dissoluta, Pancium phragmitoides, Setaria anceps, Sporobolus pyramidalis and Urelytram muricatum, while the browse consisted of Adenodolichos panicu latus, Annogeissus leocarpus, Briddelia ferruginea, Crossopteryx febrifug, Dichrostachys cenerea (glometata), Khaya senegalensis, Mimosa pigra, Parinari curatellifolis, Psorospermum guineense, and Pterocarpus erinaceus. Both grass and browse species were leafy materials from among those Species considered to be highly consumed by cattle. in general, the average values for Na, P, and Zn in the grasses, browse and standing hays were inadequate for the nutritional needs of cattle one standing hays from all locations contained suboptimum amounts of N, Ca, P, K, Mg, Na and The Cu content of all three forage types was adequate for cattle nutrition. The grass and browse species contained adequate amounts of N, K, Mg and Cu. The trace elements and Ca and Mg tended to be more concentrated in the browse species than in the grass species. The opposite was true of K. Grasses, browse and standing hays contained equal amounts of Na. Similarly, the grass and browse species contained identical amounts of P. Supplementation of mineral concentrates to include Na, P, K, Ca and Zn was suggested.