Environmental Parameters Affecting the Concentration of Iodine in New Zealand Pasture
2019
Jensen, Hayley | Orth, Barbara | Reiser, Rene | Bürge, Diane | Lehto, Niklas J. | Almond, Peter | Gaw, Sally | Thomson, Barbara | Lilburne, Linda | Robinson, Brett
Iodine (I) is an essential trace element commonly deficient in agricultural systems. Whereas there is much information on I in food crops, there is a lacuna of knowledge on the environmental factors that affect pasture I concentrations. We aimed to identify the most important environmental factors affecting the concentration of I in New Zealand pastures, and the consequences to agricultural systems. Soil and pastoral samples were collected throughout the country and analyzed for I and other elements. The soils contained 1.1 to 86 mg I kg⁻¹, with 0.005 to 1.4 mg kg⁻¹ in the pasture. In 26% of pastures, I concentrations were insufficient for sheep nutrition, whereas 87% contained insufficient I for cattle nutrition. Pasture I concentrations were negatively correlated with the distance from the sea, and the concentration of oxalate‐extractable amorphous Al, Fe, and Si oxides, which immobilize soil I. Soil organic C and clay increased I retention in soil but did not significantly affect pasture I concentrations. Future work should investigate how soil properties affect pasture I uptake in inland areas. CORE IDEAS: 87% of New Zealand pastures contained insufficient iodine for cattle. Pasture I levels are higher close to the sea. Pasture I levels are lower in soil that is high in Fe and Al (oxyhydr)oxides.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library