Distribution characteristics of minerals in soil and plants on Hulunbuir grassland

To determine the concentration and characteristics of minerals in the soil and plants on Hulunbuir grassland and provide a basis for the healthy development of animal husbandry, soil and plant samples from 80 different meadows were collected and assayed during this study. The results showed that the concentration of mineral elements in soil from high to low was as follows: Fe, Na, Ca, K, Mg, Mn, P, Zn, V, Cr, B, Ni, Cu, Co, and Sn, in which Ca was the most variable element and K was the least; the sequence in plants was Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe, Na, Sn, Mn, Cr, B, Zn, Ni, Cu, V, and Co, in which Na was the most variable element and Ni was the least. In plants, the concentration of Co was adequate for the requirement of livestock, Ca, Mg, P, K, Mn, and Cu could only satisfy or partly satisfy requirements, whereas Na and Zn could not satisfy the basic requirements, and Fe was superfluous. The elements in soil showed no significant difference between grazing and mowing meadows, but grazing significantly increased the concentration of P, Fe, Na, V, Co, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cr in plants (P<0.05). In 20 common plants at Hulunbuir grassland, the highest concentration of Ca was in Galium verum and the lowest was in Achnatherum splendens. The highest Mg was in Thermopsis lanceolate and the lowest was in Stipa capillata. The highest Mn was in Potentilla bifurca and the lowest was in Iris ensata. Finally, the highest Zn was in S. capillata and the lowest was in T. lanceolate. Suitable grassland utilization types, forage species, and mineral supplementary feeding measures should be adapted to the nutritional requirements of livestock, which would be beneficial to the sustainable development of animal husbandry on Hulunbuir grassland.