Mineral status of soils and forages in lake Nakuru national Park and implications to animal health

Abstract

A study was conducted in which forty-four (44) soil and sixty-seven (67) forage samples were collected at different sites within the Lake Nakuru National Park. Sampling sites were classified in terms of distance from the lake and location (east, west or north) while forages were categorized according to species most favoured fgr grazing by wildlife. Soils were analyzed for extractable sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb); while forages were assayed for the same elements plus aluminium (AI) and molybdenum (Mo) as total concentrations on a dry matter(DM) basis. The objectives of this work were to assess the status of both macro- and trace elements in soils and forage and identify those that might be limiting animal health and nutrition within the Park. Soil analysis indicated that pH, extractable Ca, Mg, Co, Cu, Mn and Zn were significantly higher (P<0.05) in samples from the east than from the north and west of the Park. Potassium and Na decreased significantly (P<0.05) with distance (away) from the lake; whereas the converse was true of Mn and Fe. Differences in soil concentrations for the elements P, Cd, Pb and Fe were insignificant irrespective of sampling region or distance from the lake.......