In this study, we examined forage, soil and cattle serum mineral status, and their relationships in severely (SD) and less severely (LSD) degraded rangelands, South Africa. Such evidence is essential to inform rangeland policies and interventions. In each rangeland, three villages were identified, and sites near, at intermediate and far distance from homesteads were selected. Soil from LSD had generally greater macro and microelement levels than soil from SD rangelands. Soil elements (i.e. N, P, Mg and Cu) displayed variations at local scale (between villages or distance points from homestead) depending on degradation condition. Degradation level significantly influenced the local distribution of grasses between the distance points from the homestead (Themeda triandra Forssk., Aristida congesta Roem. & Schult.) and between villages [Digitaria eriantha Steud., Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees, T. triandra]. Forage biomass was low (range: 45–223 kg ha⁻¹) in both degraded conditions. During the dry periods, cattle grazing SD rangelands had most serum minerals below a critical level, but pastures showed Cu and N deficiencies only. We conclude that the low forage yield may limit animal mineral intake. On the other hand, the great abundance of grasses with high forage values (60–76%) indicates that degraded areas may be regenerated. In SD rangelands, complete mineral supplementation is recommended during the dry period.

在这项研究中，我们检查了草料、土壤和牛血清矿物质状况，以及它们在南非严重 (SD) 和不太严重 (LSD) 退化牧场中的关系。这些证据对于为牧场政策和干预措施提供信息至关重要。在每个牧场中，确定了三个村庄，并选择了距离宅基地近、中和远的地点。LSD 的土壤通常比 SD 牧场的土壤具有更高的宏观和微量元素水平。根据退化条件，土壤元素（即 N、P、Mg 和 Cu）在局部范围内（村庄之间或距宅基地的距离点之间）显示出变化。退化程度显着影响了距宅基地距离点之间草的局部分布（Themeda triandra Forssk., Aristida congesta罗马。& Schult.) 和村庄之间 [ Digitaria eriantha Steud., Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees, T. triandra ]。在两种退化条件下，牧草生物量都很低（范围：45–223 kg ha ^-1）。在干旱时期，放牧 SD 牧场的牛的血清矿物质大部分低于临界水平，但牧场仅显示铜和氮缺乏。我们得出的结论是，草料产量低可能会限制动物矿物质的摄入量。另一方面，具有高牧草价值（60-76%）的大量草表明退化地区可能会再生。在 SD 牧场，建议在干旱期补充完整的矿物质。