Seasonal Variation of Mineral Content of Grazing Grasses in Oil-Producing Area – Ruikpokwu in Rivers State

The mineral content of grazing grasses from an oil-producing area (Rukpokwu) in Rivers State, Nigeria was determined from January to June, 2008, to evaluate the effects of seasonal variation of mineral concentrations of grazing grasses, using Izzi in Ebonyi State as control. The grasses analyzed were guinea grass (Pannicum Maximum) and giant star grass (Cynodon nleufuensis). The results obtained indicated high concentrations (mg1kg) of Potassium (17.0±0.2/15.0±0.01), sodium (1.90±0.03/1.7±0.001), Calcium (55.0±0.), Magnesium (17.0±0.02/16.0±0.02), Manganese (5.80±0.00/5.60±0.00) and Copper (1.30±0.01/0.90±0.01) and low concentrations of Iron (46.0) and Zinc (3.4±0.02) for guinea and giant star grasses respectively. During dry season, the concentrations of Calcium (52.0±0.2/43.0±0.00), Iron (31.0±0.01/28.0±0.02), Copper (0.4±0.01) and Zinc (3.0±0.02/3.1±0.00) in guinea and giant star grasses respectively were observed. In spite of the variation in mineral content of both grasses with season, the grasses still contain sufficient quality of most elements required by livestock DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n13p129