Characterisation of morphological and geochemical properties of lick soils for animals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/star.v11i2.02Keywords:
Soil, mineral licks, soil formation, soil heterogeneity, soil consumption, essential elements, ecosystem integrityAbstract
The main aim of the study was to investigate the morphological and geochemical properties of mineral licks formed in various landscapes and climatic conditions. The properties of lick soils were greatly influenced by parent materials and climatic conditions. The pH of the lick soils varied between 8.83 and 9.54. The licks identified in semi-arid climatic conditions exhibited higher concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sodium (Na), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), boron (B), and total nitrogen (TN) than other sites. For instance, S concentrations was as high as 17.57 g kg-1 soil in semi-arid areas of Dire district, making them ideal sources of S. Manganese (Mn) and silicon (Si) levels were high in lick soils found in humid climates. The variation in nutrient concentrations between lick soils suggests that each lick site can provide different nutrients to herbivores. Toxic heavy metal concentrations such as cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) were below the maximum allowable limits in all mineral licks. Our findings suggest that lick soils require protection as they play an important role in maintaining ecosystem services and integrity.
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