Mineral Composition of Native and Introduced Clovers

Abstract

Samples of seven native and four introduced clovers were collected from widely scattered areas in Wyoming and southern Montana. Most of the samples were collected at bloom stage during two successive growing seasons. The levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, colbalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc in these plants were measured. Levels of calcium were fairly high and extremely variable, ranging from 1.12 to 5.74%. Magnesium contents were quite variable with a range of 0.22 to 0.97%. Considerable variation in the levels of cobalt, range 0.09 to 1.75 ppm, exists and there were indications of species differences in accumulating ability under identical conditions. Copper accumulating capacity apparently varies from species to species and appears to be in direct contrast to cobalt accumulating ability. The range of copper was 7.0 to 49.5 ppm. Iron varied over a wide range with some unexpected high values. The levels of iron varied from 222 to 3329 ppm. Contents of manganese ranged from 39 to 250 ppm with higher levels being found in samples of alsike and white clover from the mud volcano areas of Yellowstone National Park. Amounts of mineral elements present in the clover samples were high enough to provide an adequate plane of nutrition for consuming livestock and wild game.