Comparison of mineral status in three halophyte grazed by camels and Soil of their vegetative location with their critical levels

This study was conducted to evaluate concentration of minerals in Suaeda fruticosa (SF), Atriplex leucoclada (AL) and Seidlitzia rosmarinus (SR) plants based on grazing pattern of dromedary camels. For estimating of grazing pattern, proper stems, in term of physical shape, were marked by coded plastic rings, then changes of length of grazed pieces was calculated before and post grazing by camels. The plants were sampled for chemical analysis during the autumn-winter grazing season upon camels grazing pattern. Soil samples in grazing sites were taken from a depth of 15-20 cm. plant and soil samples were analyzed by standard procedures. Approximately 67 percent of grazed shrubs by camels under freely grazing conditions had lower than 15 cm length. Except of Calcium and Zinc, there was a significant difference among three collected plant species in the mineral composition. The studied plants and soils had adequate levels of Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Manganese in our investigation regions but the Phosphor concentration in all studied plants were lower than critical levels requirement for camels, also the values of Copper and Zinc minerals in these plant species were not in acceptable. The all soil macro and micro minerals concentrations (Except Phosphor and Zinc) were upper than its critical levels.