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Animal health problems caused by silicon and other mineral imbalances

Problemas de la Salud Animal Causados por Silicón y Otros Desequilibrio Minerales

Mayland, Henry F. and Shewmaker, Glenn E. (2001) Animal health problems caused by silicon and other mineral imbalances. Journal of Range Management. 54:441-446.

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Abstract

Plant growth depends upon C, H, 0, and at least 13 mineral
elements. Six of these (N, K, Ca, Mg, P, and S) macro-elements
normally occur in plants at concentrations greater than 1,000 mg
kg- 1 level. The remaining micro-elements (B, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo,
and Zn) normally occur in plants at concentrations less than 50
mg kg". Trace amounts of other elements (e.g., Co, Na, Ni, and
Si) may be beneficial for plants. Silicon concentrations may
range upwards to 50.000 mg kg' in some forage grasses. Mineral
elements required by animals include the macro-elements Ca, Cl,
K, Mg, N, Na, P, and S; the trace or micro-elements Co, Cu, Fe,
I, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn; and the ultra-trace elements Cr, Li, and
Ni. When concentrations of these elements in forages get 'out of
whack' their bioavailability to animals may be jeopardized.
Interactions of K x Mg x Ca, Ca x P, Se x S, and Cu x Mo x S are
briefly mentioned here because more detail will be found in the
literature. Limited published information is available on Si, so
we have provided more detail. Silicon provides physical support
to plants and may reduce susceptibility to pests. However, Si may
have negative effects on digestibility and contribute to urinary
calculi in animals.

Item Type: Article
NWISRL Publication Number: 1047
Subjects: Animal > Animal health
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified: 14 Nov 2016 17:22
Item ID: 125
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/125