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The Relationship of Soils to Molybdenum Toxicity in Cattle in Nevada¹

ABSTRACT

The relationship of soil factors associated with reported areas of Mo toxicity in cattle in seven agriculturally important valleys in Nevada was investigated. The level of Mo in the plant was selected as a measure of the soil factors, but Cu, Co, S and P were also determined in a large number of the forage samples.

The Mo content varied both with plant species and soils. Under Nevada conditions, alfalfa contains about two-thirds as much Mo as does the clover, and sedge about one-sixth as much where the Mo content are very high. Grasses and sedges with high levels of Mo commonly have correspondingly low levels of Cu, Co, or P.

The Mo levels were low in forage plants from the naturally well-drained soils, and the levels of Cu, Co, S and P were considered to be adequate. Neither lithology nor physiography—alluvial fan or floodplain and terrace—is an important factor in well-drained soils.

Both high water table and surface organic accumulation, common soil characteristics of poorly drained soils, affect the Mo levels in the plant. The magnitude of their effect varies with kind of parent material. The exceedingly high (300 ppm.) Mo levels were found in forage from some granitic alluvial fans.

The relationship of problem soil areas in Nevada to other Mo toxic areas is discussed.

¹ Joint publication from the Soil Survey Investigation, SCS, and the U. S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, ARS, Ithaca, N. Y.

² Research Soil Scientist, SCS, Soil Scientist, ARS, Soil Scientist, SCS and Director, U. S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, respectively. The authors gratefully acknowledge the field support given this study by E. A. Naphan, State Soil Scientist, Nevada; W. G. Harper, Senior Soil Correlator, Riverside, Calif.; and R. F. Dever, Soil Scientist, Soil Survey Laboratory, Beltsville, Md. The writers also acknowledge the analytical assistance of DeEtta C. Cunningham, Peggy B. Prock and Jean Chen Lin, of the U. S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory.

Received for publication June 14, 1960. Accepted for publication January 24, 1961.