Soil mineral availability and human mineral status: A review and evidence from Malawi

The phosphorus (P) immobilization and thus its availability for plants are mainly affected by the strong interaction of phosphates with soil components especially soil mineral surfaces. Related reactions have been studied extensively via sorption experiments especially by carrying out adsorption of ortho-phosphate onto Fe-oxide surfaces. But a molecular-level understanding for the P-binding mechanisms at the mineral-water interface is still lacking, especially for forest eco-systems. Therefore, the current contribution provides an investigation of the molecular binding mechanisms for two abundant phosphates in forest soils, inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) and glycerolphosphate (GP), at the diaspore mineral surface. Here a hybrid electrostatic embedding quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) based molecular dynamics simulation has been applied to explore the diaspore-IHP/GP-water interactions. The results provide evidence for the formation of different P-diaspore binding motifs involving monodentate (M) and bidentate (B) for GP and two (2M) as well as three (3M) monodentate for IHP. The interaction energy results indicated the abundance of the GP B motif compared to the M one. The IHP 3M motif has a higher total interaction energy compared to its 2M motif, but exhibits a lower interaction energy per bond. Compared to GP, IHP exhibited stronger interaction with the surface as well as with water. Water was found to play an important role in controlling these diaspore-IHP/GP-water interactions. The interfacial water molecules form moderately strong H-bonds (HBs) with GP and IHP as well as with the diaspore surface. For all the diaspore-IHP/GP-water complexes, the interaction of water with diaspore exceeds that with the studied phosphates. Furthermore, some water molecules form covalent bonds with diaspore Al atoms while others dissociate at the surface to protons and hydroxyl groups leading to proton transfer processes. Finally, the current results conﬁrm previous experimental conclusions indicating the importance of the number of phosphate groups, HBs, and proton transfers in controlling the P-binding at soil mineral surfaces.

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Effect of Chelated Mineral Mixture on Blood Biochemistry, Hormone and Mineral Status in Repeat Breeder Buffaloes in Tribal Areas of Dahod District in Gujarat, India

THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ◽

10.21887/ijvsbt.15.1.9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (01) ◽

pp. 40-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P M Joshi ◽

D Patel ◽

P D Patel

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Serum Glucose ◽

Blood Biochemistry ◽

Control Group ◽

Blood Collection ◽

Mineral Status ◽

Blood Biochemical ◽

Mineral Mixture ◽

Repeat Breeder

An on-farm trial for 90 days was conducted at four tribal villages to assess the effect of chelated mineral mixture (CMM) supplementation on blood biochemistry as well as hormonal and mineral status, nutrient intake and reproductive performance of the repeat breeder buffaloes (n = 24). The animals selected were randomly divided into two groups of 12 animals each. The group T1 was control group (farmer’s feeding schedule), and T2 treatment group (T1 + CMM @ 50 g/animal/day). Blood collection was done at 0, 45 and 90 days of the experiment from both the groups for assessment of blood biochemical, hormonal and mineral status of the animals. Average DM, DCP and TDN intake in repeat breeder buffaloes calculated as per information collected from farmers were statistically similar among both the groups and were as per ICAR requirements of animals. Results revealed significant (p less than 0.05) improvement in hemoglobin, serum glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, progesterone, and macro (Ca, P)–micro (Zn, Fe, Cu, Co, Mn) mineral status of chelated mineral supplemented group as compared to control animals. The number of days taken for a successful conception in repeat breeder buffaloes as well as the cost of feeding was also reduced upon supplementation of CMM in T2 as compared to T1 group. The control group recorded a 22.12% higher cost of rearing than the treatment group during the experimental period. The findings revealed the beneficial role of cheated minerals supplementation in improving health, nutritional and reproductive status of repeat breeding buffaloes.

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