Study of Chemical Composition of Range Plants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

chemicals, range plants, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The chemical composition and seed germination of range plants located in the Eastern Province of the Saudi Arabia together with the chemical analysis of soil associated with them was evaluated in this study. The distribution of the important range plants was found in three main locations in the Eastern Province. These locations were Naeeryah, Wadi Al-Mayah and Hofuf-Salwa Road. The results of the study indicated that seven species are potentially useful grazing plants and hence they could be domesticated; of those, Plantago ovata, Prosopis [arcla and Hammada elegans, had relatively high protein content ranging from 11.3 to 12.6% at maturity, while the other four, Panicum turgidum, Pennisetum divisum, Stipagrostis plumosa and Rhanterium epapposum had relatively low protein content, ranging from 6.5 to 7.4% at maturity. All species had a wide distribution and good palatability. Chemical analyses of plants included proximate analysis and determination of major and minor elements. Except for phosphorus, all of the selected seven species contained adequate amounts of the minerals required for animal nutrition, when sampled at maturity . Soil was analysed for pH, electrical conductivity and available cations. All samples had pH ranging from 7.95 to 8.68, while the electrical conductivity ranged between 0.26 to 1.92 mS/cm. Available Cu and Mn in the soil were found to be adequate, whereas available Fe was deficient and available Zn was borderline, according to the criteria of Lindsay and Norvell (1978). Results of seed germination experiments carried out on five of the seven selected species showed a low percentage of germination, ranging from 0 to 40% . However, when the seeds were stored for a period of about 10 months, the germination percentage increased to about 65 to 90%. Representative photographs of seven of the studied species are shown.