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Effect of collection season and plant organ on the metal content of Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell

Abstract:

Amaranth (Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell.) is used as forage in the diet of sheep, goats, pigs and cattle, and is also reported as weed in various commercial crops. Its metal content was evaluated in leaves, stems and panicles of plants collected in the rainy and dry seasons. The plants were grown in the town of Merecure, Acevedo Municipality, Miranda state, Venezuela. The concentration of Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Cd, Pb and Hg were evaluated by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and Na and K by flame photometry. The values found were higher than those reported in other studies in the same as well as other species of amaranth. The major metals were Ca, K, Al, Mg and Fe. Traces of Hg were detected, while the presence of Cd and Pb was not detected. Metal accumulation differed among plant organs, and was influenced by the collection season when.