The sodium concentration in some tropical pasture species with reference to animal requirements

Abstract

A survey was made of the sodium concentration in eight grass and legume pasture species in the Townsville region. The grass species could be characterized according to sodium concentration. Panicum maximum, Chloris gayana, and Cenchrus setigerus were 'high-sodium' species (>0.40 per cent Na), whereas Urochloa mosambicensis had a medium sodium concentration, and Cenchrus ciliaris, Heteropogon contortus, and the legumes Stylosanthes humilis and Phaseolus atropurpureus were `low-medium¿ species (<0.10 per cent Na). The sodium concentration in five species grown at five sites located within 257 kilometres of Townsville, Queensland, was also examined at one stage of growth. Since several common pasture species contained low levels of sodium (<0.05 per cent of dry matter) deficiency symptoms could occur in grazing stock under certain circumstances.