Evaluation and distribution of essential minerals in different soil habitats of cold arid high-altitude environment

Evaluation and distribution of essential minerals in different soil habitats of cold arid high-altitude environment | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Evaluation and distribution of essential minerals in different soil habitats of cold arid high-altitude environment Guru Charan nil, Vijay K Bharti nil, Jatinder Kumar nil, Rajendra Kumar NIl, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3961605/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 30 Dec, 2024 Read the published version in Discover Sustainability → Version 1 posted 2 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Essential minerals are the main constituents of soil ecosystems, and status of soil is directly affected by the availability of these mineral nutrients to the feed/forages and then to the livestock. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the objectives to investigate essential mineral nutrients in various soil ecosystems in cold arid region of India. The study was done in Leh-Ladakh, a cold arid region of India, under the Tibetan plateau and the part of Trans-Himalayas. For the study, soil samples from various soils (agriculture soil, pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils) were collected and analyzed for iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Boron (B). Our experimental results revealed that, Fe content varied from 9520 to 65660 ppm, whereas total mean concentration was found 32027.22±2026.57 ppm in pasture land. The total average content of Mn in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils were found 583.33±34.21, 661.28±118.77 and 582.99±20.71 ppm respectively, while values varied from 197.70-1089.00, 166-6603.00 and 300.30-1209.00 ppm respectively. The total mean concentration of Zn was reported 84.87±7.91, 191.86±143.95 and 79.14±4.39 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils, while values ranged from 3.75-242.90, 17.48-7804.00 and 2.95-220.70 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediments and road side soils. B concentration ranged from 1.71-212.60, 2.24-5653.00 and 6.44-141.30 ppm and the total mean concentration was observed as 80.10±7.06, 151.62±103.89, 36.41±2.53 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils. Results of our study revealed that Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn and B were found within the typical range of soil indicating that the levels of studied essential mineral nutrients are within the range in various soil ecosystems from cold arid region as far as the requirement of crop plants and livestock are concerned. Cold arid Essential minerals High altitude Indus river sediment Soil habitats Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Introduction Soil presents the major repository of essential mineral nutrients and soil demonstrate an average composition close to the earth crust but near the surface parent material from which soils are derived is not uniform. Soil forming processes differ markedly from one climatic region to another, accounting for considerable overall variability in trace metals concentration [1-2]. The natural concentration of essential mineral nutrients in soils is a result of weathering, which releases these mineral elements from their soil forming minerals during soil formation [3]. A close relationship between the metal content of the parent material and soils has been observed [4, 5]. The mobility and solubility of mineral elements depend on the properties of minerals as well as the quality of soil, pH and other factors. Most of the major and trace elements (Na, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, and B) are contributed through the weathering of igneous and sedimentary rocks in the soils. A number of these elements are biologically essential in trace levels present in natural water, air, dusts, soils and sediments, and play an important role in human life [6, 7]. The mobility, solubility and bioaccumulation of trace elements depend on the properties of the trace elements as well as the quality of soil, pH and other factors. The bioavailability of trace and major elements in the soil is decisive for agriculture purposes. The speciation of major, trace minerals and heavy metals ultimately determines their bioavailability and their mobility in the soil [8]. There is no specific study in this region on the various soil systems that can reveal the essential mineral nutrients status and their distribution, by keeping this point in mind the present study was designed with objectives to assess the level of essential mineral nutrients and their distribution throughout the soil systems from cold arid microclimate of India. Material and Methods Survey of study site The present study included various types of soil systems of this region viz. Indus river sediment, pasture land and road side soils and their study map was presented in Figure 9. These soils scattered over a larger area of Indus Valley and particularly lie in Leh district of Ladakh division in India. Ecologically Ladakh region lays in Tibetan Plateau is a cold arid region under the rain shadow of the Himalayas. Since the region lies in the rain shadow it became one of the cold driest (cold arid) place on the earth. Leh is situated in the eastern Ladakh Plateau and come under cold hyper arid ecosystem (ESR) surrounded by the Indus and Zanskar Rivers. Leh district is situated between 32 0 to 36 0 N latitude and 75 0 to 80 0 E longitude and at an altitude ranging from 3500 to 6500 m. amsl. The study area lies between 33⁰59.362 to 34⁰17.722 N latitude and 077⁰12.023 to 077⁰45.669 E longitude and with at an elevation ranging from 9000 to 13000 ft. amsl. Due to high altitude and low humidity, the radiation level is amongst the highest in the world (up to 6-7 Kwh/mm), which increases aridity of soils in this region. Longer photoperiod (>12 hours) and about 330 sunny days in a year, that causes extra dryness to the soils are typical characteristics of the soils in this region. These conditions make the agriculture and allied practices very tough nevertheless, by diverting glacial fed rivers into stone-built terraces, gathering soil through sedimentation, enriching the soil with organic manure and other practices by which local farmers are able to cultivate staples under such harsh climatic conditions in this region. Cultivation and habitations in the Ladakh region are mostly confined to the river valleys, like Indus valley, Nubra-Shyok valley, Shingo-Suru valley and Zanskar valley. Soil sampling, processing and digestion For the study, pasture land soil, road side soil and river (Indus or Sindhu) sediments are selected for preliminary data generation for this region essential for plant and animals. 66 composite soil samples from pasture land (06 from each sampling site, total site: 11), 96 samples from road side soils (06 from each sampling site, total site: 16), and 66 Indus river sediment samples (06 from each sampling site, total site: 11 were collected. Ten sampling points were selected at each sampling site (100 × 20 m size); thereafter one soil sample was collected from up to 15 cm soil depth (plough layer) by quartering method from each sampling point. All soil samples were air dried at room temperature and their diverse color variation were observed and presented in Figure 8, sieved with <2.0mm test sieve and further it was grinded in stainless steel pestle and mortar and sieved with 200µm of test sieve. All the soil samples were digested on dry matter basis, by using metal grade HF (hydrofluoric acid), nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, on 42 blocks Automated Hot Bock digestion system (Questron Technologies Inc, Canada). Essential mineral elements were estimated by ICP-OES (Optima 7000 DV, Perkin Elmer, USA). ICP-OES optimized instrumental conditions are mentioned in Table 1. Statistical analysis Data generated through the study were analyzed for mean and Standard error (SE). Significance level (P<0.05) was generated among different soils (Indus river sediment, Pasture land and road side soils), by one-way ANOVA for Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) using the SPSS statistical software, 11.5 version, SPSS Inc. USA. Results and discussion The iron and magnesium concentrations in various soil systems from the cold desert high altitude region were presented in (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 1, 2). Our experimental results revealed that, Fe content varied from 9520 to 65660 ppm, whereas total mean concentration was found as 32027.22±2026.57 ppm. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) disclosed that sampling site 5 (58110 ±3146.80 ppm) showed reported significantly (P<0.05) higher values for Fe content while significantly (P<0.05) lower concentration at site 8 (11602 ±858.17 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2). The manganese and zinc concentrations in various soils in cold desert high altitude region were presented in Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4. The total average content of Mn in pasture land, Indus river sediment and road side soils were found 583.33±34.21, 661.28±118.77 and 582.99±20.71 ppm respectively, while it varied from 197.70-1089.00, 166-6603.00 and 300.30-1209.00 ppm respectively (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4). Statistical analysis revealed that, Mn concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher estimated at site 4 (927.68±59.87 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (225.48±11.14 ppm) while at site 2 (1855.52±1202.94 ppm) and at site 4 (260.10 ±35.24 ppm), whereas at site 2 (940.46±47.39 ppm) and at site 14 (346.33±27.78 ppm) in pasture land, Indus river sediment and road side soils respectively (Table 2, 3, 4). The total mean concentration of Zn was reported to 84.87±7.91, 191.86±143.95 and 79.14±4.39 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus river sediment and road side soils, while it range varied from 3.75-242.90, 17.48-7804.00 and 2.95-220.70 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus river sediments and road side soils (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4). The one way ANOVA (Duncan’s multiple range test) analysis revealed that, significantly (P <0.05) higher content of Zn was estimated at sampling site 5 (181.66±20.15 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (11.76±2.53 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2), while in Indus river sediment, Zn concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher at site 2 (1628.7±1543.90 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (21.59±3.02 ppm). Road side soils showed significantly (P<0.05) higher Zn concentration at site 2 (132.63±11.56 ppm) and lowest at site 14 (42.05±6.77 ppm) (Table 3). B concentration ranged from 1.71-212.60, 2.24-5653.00 and 6.44-141.30 ppm and the total mean concentration was observed as 80.10±7.06, 151.62±103.89, 36.41±2.53 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 7). Boron concentration was estimated significantly (P<0.05) lower at site 9 (15.22±2.84 ppm) and highest at site 5 (163.88±26.36 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2) while significantly (P<0.005) high reported at site 2 (1201.57 ±1112.90 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (1201.57±1112.90 ppm) in river sediment (Table 4; Figure 7) but in road side soils, B concentration was reported highest at site 15 (89.90±12.96 ppm) and lowest at site 13 (10.44±1.65 ppm) (Table 3; Figure 7). Fe is structural component of porphyrin molecules: cytochromes, hemes, hematin, ferrichrome and leghemoglobin, all these substances are involved in oxidation-reduction reactions in respiration and photosynthesis. 75% of the cell Fe is associated with the chloroplasts, and upto 90% of Fe in leaves occur with lipoprotein of the chloroplast and mitochondrial membranes [9, 10]. A high proportion of iron is localized within the chloroplasts of rapidly growing leaves [11]. Iron occurs in concentrations of 7,000 to 500,000 ppm in soils [12], where it is present mainly in the insoluble Fe (III) (ferric, Fe 3+ ) form. Ferric ions hydrolyze readily to give Fe (OH) 2+ , Fe (OH) 3 , and Fe (OH) 4- with the combination of these three forms and the Fe 3+ ions being the total soluble inorganic iron [13]. The present study revealed that the Fe concentration in various study soil systems detected above the critical level and found in optimum quantity for the crop plants growing in the region. However, Parmar et al. [14] reported low Fe in most of the soil samples from high altitude region. This may be due to the alkaline pH (7.5-8.8) reaction and calcareous nature of soil. The higher level of Fe was estimated in present study that may be due to presence of Fe forming minerals in parent materials or in rocks or geological system from this region. The level of Fe in road side soils was found comparatively higher than other studied soils (Indus river sediments and pasture land soil) this is because of materials used like coarse soil, small stones, and rocks block used for road construction. Soil Mg originates from weathering of several Mg bearing minerals including biotite dolomite, illite hornblende olivine and serpentine in arid region substantial amounts of mineral epsomite may be present and in calcareous soils Mg may found as dolomite [15, 16]. Common soil types high in Mg include soils that are not leached heavily or soils in depressions where leached nutrients may accumulate. Leached soils such as laterite soils and podzols tend to be low on Mg [17]. Soils derived from parent bedrock of dolomite or igneous rock tends to be high in Mg [16]. The Mg deficiency is associated with environmental conditions that occurred in excessively leached sandy soils [18]. In our previous study it was predicted that the nature of soils from this region is sandy, alkaline and calcareous and it proved that the crop production is very problematic and require special attention through soil mineral nutrient management for crop production, all these factors affects mineral availability in soil solution [19]. Approximately 13000, 47000, 43000 ppm of the earth crust’s continental upper layer, lower layer, and the ocean crust is made up of Mg respectively [20]. However, in surface soils, Mg concentrations usually ranges from 300 to 8400 ppm, with sandy soils typically having the lowest concentration (500 ppm), and the clay soils containing the highest Mg concentrations (5000 ppm) [21]. Considering surface soils, sandy soils typically have the lowest Mg concentrations and clay soils typically have the highest Mg concentrations [18]. Mg in soil solutions ranges from 50-120 ppm [22]. (Prasad 2006). Mg constitutes 19300 ppm of earth crust however total soil Mg content ranges from 1000 ppm in coarse humid region soils to 40000 ppm in fine textured, arid soils formed from high Mg minerals [23, 24]. A soil solution Mg concentration typically ranges from 5-50 ppm in temperate region soils although Mg concentrations between 120 and 2400 ppm have been observed [23, 24]. It is assumed that the total Mg availability in various soils from this region is not a problem here because our present study revealed that the pasture land soil contain 6325 ppm, 4416 river sediment, 3249 ppm in road side soils Mn that is total but may be problem with the availability as the prevailing conditions are not suitable and may affect its availability. Mn is the tenth most abundant element on the surface of the earth this does not occur in isolation naturally but found in combination with other elements to give many common minerals in soils. Mn deficient soils are found all over the world [25, 26]. All these previous studies indicated that, Mn deficiency dominated world over and these deficiency lies with the soil quality that is seems to be very poor, results of our study revealed that the Mn concentration in this cold arid region soil systems has not been found deficient as the total Mn is concerned and it differed with soil types. According to Havlin et al. [23, 24] total Mn content in soils ranges from between 20-3000 ppm and averages about 600 ppm. The above cited reports mention, that the natural soil contains much higher total Mn content than that of requirement to plant and animals but the problem is with their availability in soil solution, that is affected by soil pH; it decreases as the pH increases and Mn found in most Fe-Mg rocks when released from the weathering of primary rocks. The Mn deficiency is generally observed on high pH soils, which favour both chemical and microbiological oxidation and immobilization of soluble Mn 2+ . The level of Mn in cold desert high altitude region soils is quite surprising because it found above the 600 ppm in various studied soils that is said to be optimum and above the critical level. The higher level of Mn in cold arid soils may be due to the higher level of Fe in the our studied soils soil as it was reported that the Mn is associated with the Fe forming minerals in earth crust [27]. The average concentration of zinc in the crust of Earth, granitic, and basaltic igneous rock is approximately 70, 40, and 100 ppm respectively [28], whereas sedimentary rocks like limestone, sandstone, and shale contain 20, 16, and 95 ppm, respectively [29]. The most quoted range of total Zn in normal soils is 10-300ppm with a mean value of 50 ppm [30]. There are five major pools of zinc in the soil: (a) zinc in soil solution; (b) surface adsorbed and exchangeable zinc; (c) zinc associated with organic matter; (d) zinc associated with oxides and carbonates; and (e) zinc in primary minerals and secondary alumino-silicate materials [31]. The total zinc content in soils varies from 3 to 770 ppm with the world average being 64 ppm [32] and the critical level is <2.5 ppm soils. Our present investigation showed that the Zn level in studied soil ecosystems ranged from 2.95 to 7804.00 ppm and total mean content (84.87±7.91 pasture land soil; 191.86±143.95 Indus river sediment and 79.14±4.39 ppm road side soils) observed which is much more than the world average and said to be non deficient in total Zinc in cold arid soils. Zinc deficiency is common in plants growing in highly weathered acid or calcareous soils [33], the same results also reported by Parmar et al. [14] in this region which disclosed that the 72 % soil samples collected from different blocks of Leh district were found deficient in DTPA-extractable Zn, and 38% in Lahaul Spiti soil samples. Available form of Zn is quite differ with the total Zn in the soil, total consists both available and non available form, availability is affected by soil chemistry (pH, soil reaction) and soil texture (silt, clay & sand proportions) as it was reported by Mertens and Smolders [34] that total Zinc content in soil depends upon the parent rock weathering, organic matter, texture and pH. The total Zn in some Indian soils was 47 ppm in Entisols, 60 ppm in Inceptisols 61 ppm in Aridisols, 63 ppm in Vertisols, 44 ppm in Alfisols 53 ppm in Ultisols, 30 ppm in Molisols and 72 ppm in Oxisols [35]. The soils of Leh-Ladakh (cold arid high altitude) characterize as typic Cryorthids (cold deserts), have 84.87, 191.86, 86.66 and 79.14 ppm Zn concentrations from our present study in pasture land, Indus river sediment, agriculture soil and road side soils respectively. It was reported that the soils formed from basic rocks such as basalt are richer in Zn than those from acid rocks such as granite gneisses [34]. In India Zn also has received special attention of researchers [22] and earlier investigations revealed that most of the Indian soils are found Zn deficient. The total mean concentrations of Cu (uncontaminated) in worldwide soils range from 13-24 ppm, but the overall range for world soils is higher (1-40 ppm), depending on the nature of the soil parent materials [32]. Soils with an elevated copper concentration (<70 ppm), can be used for growing all crops. The present study revealed that, total average copper concentrations varied from to 28.60±2.6 to 119±92.6 ppm in our studied soils and sediments (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 5), that is much more than the world average content in soils [32] however it is considered risky somewhere in study sites values are >100 ppm. Thus, the precaution should be taken when using the Indus river sediment and somehow to water but the other studied soils are in the safe zone as per the Cu concentration is concerned. The elevated level of copper is found in mafic rocks (60-120 ppm) and argillaceous sediments (40-60 ppm) much lower levels in limestones (2-10 ppm) [32]. However, Cu >100 ppm in the soils is lethal for most common plants [36]. Copper concentration is soils is strongly differentiated and indicates a relevant relation with clay content in soils [32, 37]. Cu in soil can be fixed by adsorption, precipitation, organic Chelation and complexation as well as microbial fixation, basically immobile in soils [32], Cu can precipitate with sulfides, carbonates and hydroxides and is tightly held on organic and inorganic exchange sites, with the bilk of Cu adsorption occurring in Fe and Mn oxides [32], which is non exchangeable form [36]. The major form of Cu in soil solution is that of soluble organic chelates, while the solubility of all Cu forms decreases at pH 7.0-8.0 [32]. Acid leached sandy soils and calcareous sandy soils may be low in soluble copper [38] and mobility is low in reduced and neutral soils [39]. Cu mobility may be higher under high pH due to the Cu 2+ complexes formation which may increase overall Cu solubility [40] this factor can play a major role in total Cu dynamics at this present study region. The overall range of cobalt in soils on a worldwide basis is 0.1 to 70 ppm [32]. Cobalt is present is soil as CO 2+ and CO 3+ and probably as Co(OH) 3- [32] and major form of cobalt in soil solution is CO 2+ [41] while the total amount of Co in soil solution will be low. The status of available Co in soil can be estimated based on geological and soil information [32]. The manganese oxide minerals are most imperative factor controlling Co distribution and their availability in the soils [32] so the crystalline Mn oxide minerals may retain almost all soil Co, even that the applied to soil as fertilizer [42] Co held in such a way in soils is not available for the plants. Further Fe oxide, clay minerals and organic matter may also adsorb Co so the availability is again influenced by the clay mineral types and organic matter on which it is absorbed [32]. Montmorillonite and illite will strongly retain Co and organic chelates bound Co which is very mobile in soils, Co is mobile in oxidizing and acid soils; soils with low Co levels tend o be either alkaline and calcareous, high in organic matter content, acidic and highly leached and high in Fe and Mn contents in soils [32]. Our findings disclosed that Co concentration in various soils and river sediment (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 6) was within the typical range of world soils [32]. Further present results regarding Co concentrations were found below threshold limit in our studied soils and sediments samples. The low abundance of Co in the soils of the study area possibly does not impart threat of Co in human beings through food chain because it is essential trace elements for plants, animals and mankind as well. Alkaline and calcareous soil, organic matter and high Fe reduce the mobility of Co. Biological function of Co is not very clearly understood but it is considered essential for the plants in minor quantities. The soil contaminations of heavy metals were studied in different parts of India [41, 43]. B occurs in low concentrations in the earth’s crust and in most igneous rocks (<10 ppm), among the sedimentary rocks, shale have the highest B content (<100 ppm) present in the clay minerals. The total B concentration in soils varied between 2 and 200 ppm and frequently ranges from 7-80 ppm [44]. The total boron content of most agricultural soils ranges from 1-467 ppm with an average content of 9-85 ppm and the available B in agriculture soils varies from 0.5-5.0 ppm. Gupta [45] reported that the total boron on Podzols soils from eastern Canada ranged from 45-124 ppm. Total B in major soil orders, Inceptisols and Alfisols. Our present study disclosed that total B concentrations in various soils estimated to 36.4, 80.0 and 151.6 ppm respectively in road side soil, pasture land soil and Indus river sediment while the B contents in Indian soils ranged from 8-18 ppm. These reports showed that the B concentrations in cold arid soils are comparatively higher than the national range these higher concentrations may be due to the B forming minerals in parent rock and soil types falling under divergent geographical and climatic zones. The available form of B in soil is believed to be derived from sediment and plant materials, B leaches down the soil profile and therefore soils of humid region such as sandy podzols, alluvial soils and organic soils have low amounts of plant available B, because B minerals are too much soluble [46, 47]. Gupta [45] reported that available boron on Podzol soils from eastern Canada ranged from 0.38-4.67 ppm. It indicates the very less amount of B is available in soil for the plant in soil solution. B availability is affected by Soil reaction or soil pH as earlier workers observed negative correlations between plant B accumulations and soil pH [48]. Therefore the availability of B may be influenced in this studies region where soil reaction is alkaline or higher range of pH and other factors may also be involved viz. coarse soil texture, low water holding capacity, leachability, topography and moisture. Conclusion Results of the present investigation showed that the essential minerals nutrients (total Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, and B) are widely distributed and are within the normal range of soils at various studied sites at cold desert high altitude microclimate. Hence, it could be speculated that fodder/plants grown on these sites will be suitable for livestock feeding/pasture. However, various fodder/plants grow on these sites should be analyzed for minerals content and minerals supplementation, if required. Further it can be concluded that, the application of bio-fertilizers and organic manures will enhance the availability of these essential minerals for different crop plants, because it was proved in my previous studies that the soils of this region are sandy, saline to alkaline in nature. Declarations Acknowledgments The authors are thankful to Defence Research and Developmental Organization (DRDO), New Delhi, India, for financial support and research fellowship to first author Guru Charan. Authors are also grateful to Dr. RB Srivastava, Director of the DRDO-Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR), for his kind permission to carry out this research work and all the Institutional support during this research work. Conflict of Interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Authors' contributions Guru Charan performed all the experiments related to soil sampling, minerals analysis, statistical analysis, drafted and edited the main manuscript. Dr. Jatinder Kumar and Dr. Rajendra Kumar helped during survey and soil sample collection, Dr. Preeti Mahawar helped in final manuscript editing while Vijay K. Bharti has conceived and coordinated this study. References Zhang, Y. Y., Wu, W., & Liu, H. (2019). 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Inorganic equilibria affecting micronutrients in soils (pp. 89–112). https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser4.2ed.c4 Gupta, U. C. (1972). Effects of boron and lime on boron concentration and growth of forage legumes under greenhouse conditions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis , 3 (5), 355–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103627209366389 Tables Table 1: Optimized instrumental conditions of ICP-OES, Optima 7000 during analysis Sl. No. Properties Status Injector Alumina 2 mm i.d. Sample tubing Standard 0.76 mm i.d. Drain tubing Standard 1.14 mm i.d. Quartz torch Single slot Sample capillary Teflon 1 mm i.d. Sample vials Polypropylene Source equilibrium delay 15 sec Plasma aerosol type Wet Nebulizer start up Instant RF power 1450 Nebulizer flow 0.8 L/min Auxiliary flow 0.2 L/min Plasma flow 15 L/min Sample pump rate 1.5 ml/min Plasma viewing Axial, radial Processing mode Peak area Auto integration (min-max) 0.1-0.5 sec Replicates 2 Background correction 2-point Table 2: Certain essential minerals contents (ppm) in pasture land soils from cold desert high altitude region Study sites Fe Mg Mn Zn Cu Co B 1 36258 e ±2715 6399 b ±626 795.34 c ±81.63 80.70 c ±4.95 25.63 cd ±3.3 19.07 bcd ±1.8 118.68 d ±9.3 2 36420 e ±4713 5605 b ±545 804.78 c ±102.63 112.28 d ±13.19 31.85 de ±7.2 20.20 bcd ±3.2 99.73 cd ±13.5 3 44076 f ±1620 9629 c ±376 835.54 c ±15.29 130.86 d ±16.42 30.81 d ±1.4 23.73 cde ±0.6 108.74 cd ±6.8 4 50500 f ±3750 10906 c ±1639 927.68 c ±59.87 172.50 e ±17.27 37.7d ef ±2.9 28.86 de ±2.1 126.70 d ±2.9 5 58110 g ±3147 15414 d ±2031 780.14 c ±50.27 181.66 e ±20.15 45.98 f ±3.4 31.11 e ±2.0 163.88 e ±26.4 6 26220 cd ±1831 1803 a ±130 477.68 b ±29.14 72.17 bc ±6.72 18.21 bc ±1.3 14.90 abc ±0.6 44.40 ab ±4.1 7 20618 bc ±1215 3770 ab ±392 418.20 b ±26.40 44.26 ab ±7.25 12.57 ab ±1.7 11.71 ab ±1.1 22.44 a ±4.5 8 11602 a ±858 4468 ab ±635 225.48 a ±11.14 11.76 a ±2.53 4.81 a ±0.7 6.52 a ±0.6 40.26 ab ±22.1 9 13948 ab ±1705 4961 b ±1450 384.88 b ±38.29 22.37 a ±6.64 4.21 a ±0.7 7.61 a ±1.3 15.22 a ±2.8 10 25674 cd ±1527 4205 ab ±579 354.78 ab ±12.24 66.72 bc ±8.52 43.20 e f ±8.3 46.93 f ±8.9 75.96 bc ±9.8 11 32568 de ±2298 3328 ab ±467 480.96 b ±46.13 55.77 bc ±3.57 61.50 g ±2.2 48.26 f ±1.4 74.45 bc ±4.8 Mean 32027 ±2026 6325 ±585 583.33 ±34.21 84.87 ±7.91 28.60 ±2.6 23.4 ±2.1 80.00 ±7.10 Range 9520- 65660 1346-19780 197.70-1089.00 3.75-242.90 2.27- 67.9 4.51- 56.8 1.71- 212.6 Fe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean±SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05) between the row Table 3: Certain essential minerals concentration (ppm) in road side soils from cold desert high altitude region Study sites Fe Mg Mn Zn Cu Co B 1 30182 bc ±3185 4769 bcd ±1093 441.92 abc ±29.62 60.83 a ±4.16 54.4 e ±3.5 52.6 e ±2.8 52.30 d ±8.6 2 49270 f ±677 10289 e ±1491 940.46 g ±47.39 132.63 cd ±12.00 32.8 c ±4.8 24.8 d ±2.3 73.80 e ±13.70 3 28414 b ±1869 1980 a ±354 479.58 abcd ±31.42 59.74 a ±13.61 14.3 ab ±2.7 12.8 b ±1.4 23.10 abc ±2.10 4 31958 bc ±1917 1493 a ±160 540.60 bcde ±40.02 46.64 a ±4.30 45.6 d ±1.0 57.7 e ±0.7 32.10 bc ±0.80 5 33960 bcd ±2843 1444 a ±81 528.28 bcde ±46.55 57.89 a ±3.39 44.4 d ±1.1 58.2 e ±0.5 29.7 abc ±1.30 6 30765 bc ±1007 1559 a ±114 420.70 ab ±14.81 40.67 a ±7.94 49.9 de ±0.7 57.7 e ±0.3 32.5 bcd ±1.20 7 33962 bcd ±4031 2177 ab ±389 513.43 bcde ±67.00 56.69 a ±6.79 46.4 de ±1.4 56.6 e ±1.8 31.7 bc ±2.50 8 28605 b ±808 1217 a ±99 404.53 ab ±14.80 59.93 a ±5.84 45.9 de ±0.7 58.3 e ±0.5 34.2 bcd ±1.50 9 34288 bcd ±3428 1493 a ±174 485.92 abcde ±34.20 56.78 a ±5.29 48.7 de ±2.9 55.9 e ±1.2 35.3 bcd ±3.50 10 42522 def ±2278 4013 abc ±239 784.50 f ±29.54 112.66 cd ±8.50 18.5 b ±0.6 15.7 bc ±1.3 26.9 abc ±1.50 11 37162 bcd ±2319 3415 ab ±246 635.92 e ±49.11 114.57 cd ±9.60 14.8 ab ±1.0 12.4 b ±1.1 21.8 abc ±1.60 12 49144 f ±4704 6469 cd ±1585 786.06 f ±66.76 127.50 cd ±24.00 20.9 b ±4.8 20.2 cd ±3.1 37.8 cd ±12.30 13 39772 cde ±3849 1443 a ±178 579.36 cde ±35.86 71.87 ab ±11.5 15.0 ab ±1.0 14.8 bc ±0.6 10.4 a ±1.60 14 19273 a ±2326 1605 a ±361 346.33 a ±27.78 42.05 a ±6.77 7.7 a ±0.9 7.0 a ±0.8 15.6 ab ±2.40 15 47888 ef ±4592 7094 d ±2432 848.12 fg ±93.58 139.06 d ±18.5 32.4 c ±5.7 23.9 d ±3.4 89.9 e ±12.90 16 39136 cde ±2967 2234 ab ±249 627.10 de ±43.44 102.38 bc ±14.00 19.4 b ±2.3 16.5 bc ±1.8 28.3 abc ±4.80 Mean 36099 ±1062 3249 ±337 582.99 ±20.71 79.14 ±4.39 33.7 ±1.7 36.4 ±2.3 36.40 ±2.50 Range 15490- 63570 802- 15900 300.30-1209 2.95- 220.7 5.9- 68.7 5.9- 62.9 6.40- 141.3 Fe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean±SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05) between the row. Table 4: Certain essential minerals content (ppm) in river (Indus) sediment from cold desert high altitude Study sites Fe Mg Mn Zn Cu Co B 1 44760 ef ±6192 5214 cd ±682 685.88 ab ±57.83 72.33 a ±7.74 21.32 a ±2.5 18.10 ab ±1.1 36.43 a ±1.6 2 21450 ab ±8294 5096 bcd ±771 1855.52 c ±1203 1628.79 b ±1544 1016 a ±1002 1291 c ±1279 1202 b ±1112 3 48750 f ±1239 5157 bcd ±87 949.58 ab ±16.44 119.88 a ±6.84 40.57 a ±2.2 25.74 a ±0.6 51.95 a ±8.7 4 32044 bcd ±640 2620 bc ±308 446.18 a ±10.50 56.11 a ±3.38 60.93 a ±1.3 51.91 ab ±0.5 66.08 a ±6.3 5 13643 a ±1392 2161 a ±223 260.10 a ±35.24 98.95 a ±2.44 38.57 a ±1.6 63.45 ab ±0.7 29.96 a ±3.3 6 35180 cde ±2780 4195 abcd ±219 556.23 a ±28.72 71.03 a ±6.86 19.40 a ±1.3 16.07 ab ±0.5 51.74 a ±2.4 7 38510 cdef ±1924 7744 e ±2116 668.36 ab ±74.01 85.67 a ±22.91 21.29 a ±3.0 16.65 ab ±1.8 56.92 a ±15.7 8 42769 def ±2107 6336 de ±784 490.93 a ±25.97 127.47 a ±3.97 35.39 a ±1.1 24.78 ab ±0.6 94.33 a ±2.7 9 22044 ab ±842 3659 abc ±389 377.26 a ±21.23 38.56 a ±6.68 9.60 a ±0.7 10.21 ab ±0.4 6.99 a ±1.7 10 30552 bc ±1864 2364 a ±222 546.50 a ±27.62 66.18 a ±7.32 18.44 a ±1.4 15.78 ab ±1.1 40.70 a ±13.8 11 20795 ab ±4192 3939 abcd ±179 288.43 a ±13.92 21.59 a ±3.02 6.22 a ±0.4 8.09 a ±0.5 1.03 a ±1.4 Mean 32068 ±1787 4416 ±313 661.28 ±118.77 191.86 ±143.95 119 ±92.6 121 ±118 151.6 ±104 Range 186.50 -68040 1549 -16160 166 -6603 17.48 -7804 5.29 -5025 7.08 -6407 2.3 -5653 Fe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean±SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P<0.05) between the row Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":92452,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCopper (Cu) content in different soil habitats from cold arid-high altitude environment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/06535122adbcbcab01638bcd.jpg"},{"id":54483492,"identity":"5e53b3ff-b215-444e-85ec-66d7b03f7c92","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-11 08:43:17","extension":"jpg","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":86341,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCobalt (Co) content in different soil habitats from cold arid-high altitude environment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/e6023413e72503b58fa16690.jpg"},{"id":54483491,"identity":"a9fe307f-4880-4cac-b83f-10241d31e0db","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-11 08:43:16","extension":"jpg","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":88340,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoron (B) content in different soil habitats from cold arid-high altitude environment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/aedd4f9191e081758dcff24c.jpg"},{"id":54483490,"identity":"8aea6faf-cfc3-4a82-9967-7976514136b3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-11 08:43:16","extension":"jpg","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":102213,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVisible color variations in different agriculture soil samples\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/33c00f459282ea665c3351aa.jpg"},{"id":73093411,"identity":"3f199ff7-eb1d-4b03-820c-c941d7fb93ca","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-01-06 16:17:28","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1746759,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/e7991103-ba11-4d48-8739-2f4508259635.pdf"},{"id":54483487,"identity":"e50ff31b-6c8d-4ba1-88e2-21b32569ea8a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-11 08:43:16","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":140060,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MapofStudyArea.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3961605/v1/f75fa690cdb1314e93180d06.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Evaluation and distribution of essential minerals in different soil habitats of cold arid high-altitude environment","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eSoil presents the major repository of essential mineral nutrients and soil demonstrate an average composition close to the earth crust but near the surface parent material from which soils are derived is not uniform. Soil forming processes differ markedly from one climatic region to another, accounting for considerable overall variability in trace metals concentration [1-2]. The natural concentration of essential mineral nutrients in soils is a result of weathering, which releases these mineral elements from their soil forming minerals during soil formation [3]. A close relationship between the metal content of the parent material and soils has been observed [4, 5].\u0026nbsp;The mobility and solubility of mineral elements depend on the properties of minerals as well as the quality of soil, pH and other factors. Most of the major and trace elements (Na, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, and B) are contributed through the weathering of igneous and sedimentary rocks in the soils. A number of these elements are biologically essential in trace levels present in natural water, air, dusts, soils and sediments, and play an important role in human life [6, 7].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mobility, solubility and bioaccumulation of trace elements depend on the properties of the trace elements as well as the quality of soil, pH and other factors. The bioavailability of trace and major elements in the soil is decisive for agriculture purposes. The speciation of major, trace minerals and heavy metals ultimately determines their bioavailability and their mobility in the soil [8]. There is no specific study in this region on the various soil systems that can reveal the essential mineral nutrients status and their distribution, by keeping this point in mind the present study was designed with objectives to assess the level of essential mineral nutrients and their distribution throughout the soil systems from cold arid microclimate of India.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSurvey of study site\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe present study included various types of soil systems of this region viz. Indus river sediment, pasture land and road side soils and their study map was presented in Figure 9. These soils scattered over a larger area of Indus Valley and particularly lie in Leh district of Ladakh division in India. Ecologically Ladakh region lays in Tibetan Plateau is a cold arid region under the rain shadow of the Himalayas. Since the region lies in the rain shadow it became one of the cold driest (cold arid) place on the earth. Leh is situated in the eastern Ladakh Plateau and come under cold hyper arid ecosystem (ESR) surrounded by the Indus and Zanskar Rivers. Leh district is situated between 32\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e to 36\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003eN latitude and 75\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003e to 80\u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003eE longitude and at an altitude ranging from 3500 to 6500 m. amsl. The study area lies between 33⁰59.362 to 34⁰17.722 N latitude and 077⁰12.023 to 077⁰45.669 E longitude and with at an elevation ranging from 9000 to 13000 ft. amsl. Due to high altitude and low humidity, the radiation level is amongst the highest in the world (up to 6-7 Kwh/mm), which increases aridity of soils in this region. Longer photoperiod (\u0026gt;12 hours) and about 330 sunny days in a year, that causes extra dryness to the soils are typical characteristics of the soils in this region. These conditions make the agriculture and allied practices very tough nevertheless, by diverting glacial fed rivers into stone-built terraces, gathering soil through sedimentation, enriching the soil with organic manure and other practices by which local farmers are able to cultivate staples under such harsh climatic conditions in this region. Cultivation and habitations in the Ladakh region are mostly confined to the river valleys, like Indus valley, Nubra-Shyok valley, Shingo-Suru valley and Zanskar valley.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil sampling, processing and digestion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the study, pasture land soil, road side soil and river (Indus or Sindhu) sediments are selected for preliminary data generation for this region essential for plant and animals. 66 composite soil samples from pasture land (06 from each sampling site, total site: 11), 96 samples from road side soils (06 from each sampling site, total site: 16), and 66 Indus river sediment samples (06 from each sampling site, total site: 11 were collected. Ten sampling points were selected at each sampling site (100 \u0026times; 20 m size); thereafter one soil sample was collected from up to 15 cm soil depth (plough layer) by quartering method from each sampling point. All soil samples were air dried at room temperature and their diverse color variation were observed and presented in Figure 8, sieved with \u0026lt;2.0mm test sieve and further it was grinded in stainless steel pestle and mortar and sieved with 200\u0026micro;m of test sieve. All the soil samples were digested on dry matter basis, by using metal grade HF (hydrofluoric acid), nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, on 42 blocks Automated Hot Bock digestion system (Questron Technologies Inc, Canada). Essential mineral elements were estimated by ICP-OES (Optima 7000 DV, Perkin Elmer, USA). ICP-OES optimized instrumental conditions are mentioned in Table 1.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eData generated through the study were analyzed for mean and Standard error (SE). Significance level (P\u0026lt;0.05) was generated among different soils (Indus river sediment, Pasture land and road side soils), by one-way ANOVA for Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) using the SPSS statistical software, 11.5 version, SPSS Inc. USA.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results and discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe iron and magnesium concentrations in various soil systems from the cold desert high altitude region were presented in\u0026nbsp;(Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 1, 2). Our experimental results revealed that, Fe content varied from 9520 to 65660 ppm, whereas total mean concentration was found as 32027.22\u0026plusmn;2026.57 ppm. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) disclosed that sampling site 5 (58110\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026plusmn;3146.80 ppm) showed reported significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) higher values for Fe content while significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) lower concentration at site 8 (11602\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026plusmn;858.17 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manganese and zinc concentrations in various soils in cold desert high altitude region were presented in Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4. The total average content of \u0026nbsp;Mn in pasture land, Indus river sediment and road side soils were found 583.33\u0026plusmn;34.21, 661.28\u0026plusmn;118.77 and 582.99\u0026plusmn;20.71 ppm \u0026nbsp;respectively, while it varied from 197.70-1089.00, 166-6603.00 and 300.30-1209.00 ppm respectively (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4). Statistical analysis revealed that, Mn concentration was significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) higher estimated at site 4 (927.68\u0026plusmn;59.87 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (225.48\u0026plusmn;11.14 ppm) while at site 2 (1855.52\u0026plusmn;1202.94 ppm) and at site 4 (260.10\u003csup\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e\u0026plusmn;35.24 ppm), whereas at site 2 (940.46\u0026plusmn;47.39 ppm) and at site 14 (346.33\u0026plusmn;27.78 ppm) in pasture land, Indus river sediment and road side soils respectively\u0026nbsp;(Table 2, 3, 4).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe total mean concentration of Zn was reported to 84.87\u0026plusmn;7.91, 191.86\u0026plusmn;143.95 and 79.14\u0026plusmn;4.39 ppm respectively in\u0026nbsp;pasture\u0026nbsp;land, Indus river sediment and road side soils, while it range varied from\u0026nbsp;3.75-242.90, 17.48-7804.00 and 2.95-220.70 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus river sediments and road side soils (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 3, 4). The one way ANOVA (Duncan\u0026rsquo;s multiple range test) analysis revealed that, significantly (P \u0026lt;0.05) higher content of Zn was estimated at sampling site 5 (181.66\u0026plusmn;20.15 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (11.76\u0026plusmn;2.53 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2), while in Indus river sediment, Zn concentration was significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) higher at site 2 (1628.7\u0026plusmn;1543.90 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (21.59\u0026plusmn;3.02 ppm). Road side soils showed significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) higher Zn concentration at site 2 (132.63\u0026plusmn;11.56 ppm) and lowest at site 14 (42.05\u0026plusmn;6.77 ppm) (Table 3).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eB concentration ranged from\u0026nbsp;1.71-212.60,\u0026nbsp;2.24-5653.00 and 6.44-141.30 ppm and the total mean concentration was observed as\u0026nbsp;80.10\u0026plusmn;7.06,\u0026nbsp;151.62\u0026plusmn;103.89, 36.41\u0026plusmn;2.53 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils (Table\u0026nbsp;2, 3, 4; Figure 7). Boron concentration was estimated significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) lower at site 9 (15.22\u0026plusmn;2.84 ppm) and highest at site 5 (163.88\u0026plusmn;26.36 ppm) in pasture land (Table 2) while significantly (P\u0026lt;0.005) high reported at site 2 (1201.57 \u0026plusmn;1112.90 ppm) and lowest at site 8 (1201.57\u0026plusmn;1112.90 ppm) in river sediment (Table 4;\u0026nbsp;Figure 7) but in road side soils, B concentration was reported highest at site 15 (89.90\u0026plusmn;12.96 ppm) and lowest at site 13 (10.44\u0026plusmn;1.65 ppm) (Table 3;\u0026nbsp;Figure 7).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFe is structural component of porphyrin molecules: cytochromes, hemes, hematin, ferrichrome and leghemoglobin,\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eall these substances are involved in oxidation-reduction reactions in respiration and photosynthesis. 75% of the cell Fe is associated with the chloroplasts, and upto 90% of Fe in leaves occur with lipoprotein of the chloroplast and mitochondrial membranes [9, 10]. A high proportion of iron is localized within the chloroplasts of rapidly growing leaves [11]. Iron occurs in concentrations of 7,000 to 500,000 ppm in soils [12], where it is present mainly in the insoluble Fe (III) (ferric, Fe\u003csup\u003e3+\u003c/sup\u003e) form. Ferric ions hydrolyze readily to give Fe (OH)\u003csup\u003e2+\u003c/sup\u003e, Fe (OH)\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e, and Fe (OH)\u003csup\u003e4-\u003c/sup\u003e with the combination of these three forms and the Fe\u003csup\u003e3+\u003c/sup\u003e ions being the total soluble inorganic iron [13]. The present study revealed that the Fe concentration in various study soil systems detected above the critical level and found in optimum quantity for the crop plants growing in the region. However, Parmar et al. [14] reported low Fe in most of the soil samples from high altitude region. This may be due to the alkaline pH (7.5-8.8) reaction and calcareous nature of soil. The higher level of Fe was estimated in present study that may be due to presence of Fe forming minerals in parent materials or in rocks or geological system from this region. The level of Fe in road side soils was found comparatively higher than other studied soils (Indus river sediments and pasture land soil) this is because of materials used like coarse soil, small stones, and rocks block used for road construction.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoil Mg originates from weathering of several Mg bearing minerals including biotite dolomite, illite hornblende olivine and serpentine in arid region substantial amounts of mineral epsomite may be present and in calcareous soils Mg may found as dolomite [15, 16]. Common soil types high in Mg include soils that are not leached heavily or soils in depressions where leached nutrients may accumulate. Leached soils such as laterite soils and podzols tend to be low on Mg [17]. Soils derived from parent bedrock of dolomite or igneous rock tends to be high in Mg [16]. The Mg deficiency is associated with environmental conditions that occurred in excessively leached sandy soils [18]. In our previous study it was predicted that the nature of soils from this region is sandy, alkaline and calcareous and it proved that the crop production is very problematic and require special attention through soil mineral nutrient management for crop production, all these factors affects mineral availability in soil solution [19].\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;Approximately 13000, 47000, 43000 ppm of the earth crust\u0026rsquo;s continental upper layer, lower layer, and the ocean crust is made up of Mg respectively [20]. However, in surface soils, Mg concentrations usually ranges from 300 to 8400 ppm, with sandy soils typically having the lowest concentration (500 ppm), and the clay soils containing the highest Mg concentrations (5000 ppm) [21]. Considering surface soils, sandy soils typically have the lowest Mg concentrations and clay soils typically have the highest Mg concentrations [18]. Mg in soil solutions ranges from 50-120 ppm [22]. (Prasad 2006). Mg constitutes 19300 ppm of earth crust however total soil Mg content ranges from 1000 ppm in coarse humid region soils to 40000 ppm in fine textured, arid soils formed from high Mg minerals [23, 24]. A soil solution Mg concentration typically ranges from 5-50 ppm in temperate region soils although Mg concentrations between 120 and 2400 ppm have been observed [23, 24]. It is assumed that the total Mg availability in various soils from this region is not a problem here because our present study revealed that the pasture land soil contain 6325 ppm, 4416 river sediment, 3249 ppm in road side soils Mn that is total but may be problem with the availability as the prevailing conditions are not suitable and may affect its availability.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMn is the tenth most abundant element on the surface of the earth this does not occur in isolation naturally but found in combination with other elements to give many common minerals in soils. Mn deficient soils are found all over the world [25, 26]. All these previous studies indicated that, Mn deficiency dominated world over and these deficiency lies with the soil quality that is seems to be very poor, results of our study revealed that the Mn concentration in this cold arid region soil systems has not been found deficient as the total Mn is concerned and it differed with soil types.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to\u0026nbsp;Havlin et al.\u0026nbsp;[23, 24] total\u0026nbsp;Mn content in soils ranges from between 20-3000 ppm and averages about 600 ppm. The above cited reports mention, that the natural soil contains much higher total Mn content than that of requirement to plant and animals but the problem is with their availability in soil solution, that is affected by\u0026nbsp;soil pH; it decreases as the pH increases and Mn found in most Fe-Mg rocks when released from the weathering of primary rocks. The Mn deficiency is generally observed on high pH soils, which favour both chemical and microbiological oxidation and immobilization of soluble Mn\u003csup\u003e2+\u003c/sup\u003e. The level of Mn in cold desert high altitude region soils is quite surprising because it found above the 600 ppm in various studied soils that is said to be optimum and above the critical level. The higher level of Mn in cold arid soils may be due to the higher level of Fe in the our studied soils soil as it was reported that the Mn is associated with the Fe forming minerals in earth crust [27].\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe average concentration of zinc in the crust of Earth, granitic, and basaltic igneous rock is approximately 70, 40, and 100 ppm respectively [28], whereas sedimentary rocks like limestone, sandstone, and shale contain 20, 16, and 95 ppm, respectively [29]. The most quoted range of total Zn in normal soils is 10-300ppm with a mean value of 50 ppm [30]. There are five major pools of zinc in the soil: (a) zinc in soil solution; (b) surface adsorbed and exchangeable zinc; (c) zinc associated with organic matter; (d) zinc associated with oxides and carbonates; and (e) zinc in primary minerals and secondary alumino-silicate materials [31]. The total zinc content in soils varies from 3 to 770 ppm with the world average being 64 ppm [32] and the critical level is \u0026lt;2.5 ppm soils. Our present investigation showed that the Zn level in studied soil ecosystems ranged from 2.95 to 7804.00 ppm and total mean content (84.87\u0026plusmn;7.91 pasture land soil; 191.86\u0026plusmn;143.95 Indus river sediment and 79.14\u0026plusmn;4.39 ppm road side soils) observed which is much more than the world average and said to be non deficient in total Zinc in cold arid soils. Zinc deficiency is common in plants growing in highly weathered acid or calcareous soils [33], the same results also reported by Parmar et al. [14] in this region which disclosed that the 72 % soil samples collected from different blocks of Leh district were found deficient in DTPA-extractable Zn, and 38% \u0026nbsp;in Lahaul Spiti soil samples. \u0026nbsp;Available form of Zn is quite differ with the total Zn in the soil, total consists both available and non available form, availability is affected by soil chemistry (pH, soil reaction) and soil texture (silt, clay \u0026amp; sand proportions) as it was reported by Mertens and Smolders [34] that total Zinc content in soil depends upon the parent rock weathering, organic matter, texture and pH.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe total Zn in some Indian soils was 47 ppm in Entisols, 60 ppm in Inceptisols 61 ppm in Aridisols, 63 ppm in Vertisols, 44 ppm in Alfisols 53 ppm in Ultisols, 30 ppm in Molisols and 72 ppm in Oxisols [35]. The soils of Leh-Ladakh (cold arid high altitude) characterize as typic Cryorthids (cold deserts), have\u0026nbsp;84.87, 191.86,\u0026nbsp;86.66\u0026nbsp;and 79.14 ppm Zn concentrations from our present study in pasture land, Indus river sediment, agriculture soil and road side soils respectively.\u0026nbsp;It was reported that the soils formed from basic rocks such as basalt are richer in Zn than those from acid rocks such as granite gneisses [34]. In India Zn also has received special attention of researchers [22] and earlier investigations revealed that most of the Indian soils are found Zn deficient.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe total mean concentrations of Cu (uncontaminated) in worldwide soils range from 13-24 ppm, but the overall range for world soils is higher (1-40 ppm), depending on the nature of the soil parent materials [32]. Soils with an elevated copper concentration (\u0026lt;70 ppm), can be used for growing all crops. The present study revealed that, total average copper concentrations varied from to 28.60\u0026plusmn;2.6 to 119\u0026plusmn;92.6 ppm in our studied soils and sediments (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 5), that is much more than the world average content in soils [32] however it is considered risky somewhere in study sites values are \u0026gt;100 ppm. Thus, the precaution should be taken when using the Indus river sediment and somehow to water but the other studied soils are in the safe zone as per the Cu concentration is concerned. The elevated level of copper is found in mafic rocks (60-120 ppm) and argillaceous sediments (40-60 ppm) much lower levels in limestones (2-10 ppm) [32]. However, Cu \u0026gt;100 ppm in the soils is lethal for most common plants [36]. Copper concentration is soils is strongly differentiated and indicates a relevant relation with clay content in soils [32, 37].\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCu in soil can be fixed by adsorption, precipitation, organic Chelation and complexation as well as microbial fixation, basically immobile in soils [32], Cu can precipitate with sulfides, carbonates and hydroxides and is tightly held on organic and inorganic exchange sites, with the bilk of Cu adsorption occurring in Fe and Mn oxides [32], which is non exchangeable form [36]. \u0026nbsp;The major form of Cu in soil solution is that of soluble organic chelates, while the solubility of all Cu forms decreases at pH 7.0-8.0 [32]. Acid leached sandy soils and calcareous sandy soils may be low in soluble copper [38] and mobility is low in reduced and neutral soils [39]. Cu mobility may be higher under high pH due to the Cu\u003csup\u003e2+\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003ecomplexes formation which may increase overall Cu solubility [40] this factor can play a major role in total Cu dynamics at this present study region.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall range of cobalt in soils on a worldwide basis is 0.1 to 70 ppm [32]. Cobalt is present is soil as CO\u003csup\u003e2+\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eand CO\u003csup\u003e3+\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003eand probably as Co(OH)\u003csup\u003e3-\u003c/sup\u003e [32] and major form of cobalt in soil solution is \u0026nbsp;CO\u003csup\u003e2+\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e[41] while the total amount of Co in soil solution will be low. The status of available Co in soil can be estimated based on geological and soil information [32]. The manganese oxide minerals are most imperative factor controlling Co distribution and their availability in the soils [32] so the crystalline Mn oxide minerals may retain almost all soil Co, even that the applied to soil as fertilizer [42] Co held in such a way in soils is not available for the plants. Further Fe oxide, clay minerals and organic matter may also adsorb Co so the availability is again influenced by the clay mineral types and organic matter on which it is absorbed [32]. Montmorillonite and illite will strongly retain Co and organic chelates bound Co which is very mobile in soils, Co is mobile in oxidizing and acid soils; soils with low Co levels tend o be either alkaline and calcareous, high in organic matter content, acidic and highly leached and high in Fe and Mn contents in soils [32]. Our findings disclosed that Co concentration in various soils and river sediment (Table 2, 3, 4; Figure 6) was within the typical range of world soils [32]. Further present results regarding Co concentrations were found below threshold limit in our studied soils and sediments samples. The low abundance of Co in the soils of the study area possibly does not impart threat of Co in human beings through food chain because it is essential trace elements for plants, animals and mankind as well. Alkaline and calcareous soil, organic matter and high Fe reduce the mobility of Co. Biological function of Co is not very clearly understood but it is considered essential for the plants in minor quantities. The soil contaminations of heavy metals were studied in different parts of India [41, 43].\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eB occurs in low concentrations in the earth\u0026rsquo;s crust and in most igneous rocks (\u0026lt;10 ppm), among the sedimentary rocks, shale have the highest B content (\u0026lt;100 ppm) present in the clay minerals. The total B concentration in soils varied between 2 and 200 ppm and frequently ranges from 7-80 ppm [44]. The total boron content of most agricultural soils ranges from 1-467 ppm with an average content of 9-85 ppm and the available B in agriculture soils varies from 0.5-5.0 ppm. Gupta [45] reported that the total boron on Podzols soils from eastern Canada ranged from 45-124 ppm. Total B in major soil orders, Inceptisols and Alfisols. Our present study disclosed that total B concentrations in various soils estimated to 36.4, 80.0 and 151.6 ppm respectively in road side soil, pasture land soil and Indus river sediment while the B contents in Indian soils ranged from 8-18 ppm. These reports showed that the B concentrations in cold arid soils are comparatively higher than the national range these higher concentrations may be due to the B forming minerals in parent rock and soil types falling under divergent geographical and climatic zones. The available form of B in soil is believed to be derived from sediment and plant materials, B leaches down the soil profile and therefore soils of humid region such as sandy podzols, alluvial soils and organic soils have low amounts of plant available B, because B minerals are too much soluble [46, 47]. \u0026nbsp;Gupta [45] reported that available boron on Podzol soils from eastern Canada ranged from 0.38-4.67 ppm. It indicates the very less amount of B is available in soil for the plant in soil solution. B availability is affected by Soil reaction or soil pH as earlier workers observed negative correlations between plant B accumulations and soil pH [48]. Therefore the availability of B may be influenced in this studies region where soil reaction is alkaline or higher range of pH and other factors may also be involved viz. coarse soil texture, low water holding capacity, leachability, topography and moisture.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eResults of the present investigation showed that the essential minerals nutrients (total Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, and B) are widely distributed and are within the normal range of soils at various studied sites at cold desert high altitude microclimate. Hence, it could be speculated that fodder/plants grown on these sites will be suitable for livestock feeding/pasture. However, various fodder/plants grow on these sites should be analyzed for minerals content and minerals supplementation, if required. \u0026nbsp; Further it can be concluded that, the application of bio-fertilizers and organic manures will enhance the availability of these essential minerals for different crop plants, because it was proved in my previous studies that the soils of this region are sandy, saline to alkaline in nature.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors are thankful to Defence Research and Developmental Organization (DRDO), New Delhi, India, for financial support and research fellowship to first author Guru Charan. Authors are also grateful to Dr. RB Srivastava, Director of the DRDO-Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR), for his kind permission to carry out this research work and all the Institutional support during this research work.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026apos; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuru Charan performed all the experiments related to soil sampling, minerals analysis, statistical analysis, drafted and edited the main manuscript. Dr. Jatinder Kumar and Dr. Rajendra Kumar helped during survey and soil sample collection, Dr. Preeti Mahawar helped in final manuscript editing while Vijay K. Bharti has conceived and coordinated this study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang, Y. 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Inorganic equilibria affecting micronutrients in soils (pp. 89\u0026ndash;112). https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser4.2ed.c4 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGupta, U. C. (1972). Effects of boron and lime on boron concentration and growth of forage legumes under greenhouse conditions. \u003cem\u003eCommunications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e3\u003c/em\u003e(5), 355\u0026ndash;365. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103627209366389\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1:\u003c/strong\u003e Optimized instrumental conditions\u0026nbsp;of ICP-OES, Optima 7000 during analysis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSl. No.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProperties\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatus\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"1\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInjector\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAlumina 2 mm i.d.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"2\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSample tubing\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStandard 0.76 mm i.d.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"3\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDrain tubing\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStandard 1.14 mm i.d.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"4\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eQuartz torch\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSingle slot\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"5\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSample capillary\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTeflon 1 mm i.d.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"6\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSample vials \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePolypropylene\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"7\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSource equilibrium delay\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15 sec\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"8\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePlasma aerosol type\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWet\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"9\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNebulizer start up\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eInstant\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"10\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRF power \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1450\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"11\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eNebulizer flow\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.8 L/min\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"12\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAuxiliary flow\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.2 L/min\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"13\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePlasma flow\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15 L/min\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"14\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSample pump rate\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.5 ml/min\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"15\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePlasma viewing\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAxial, radial\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"16\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eProcessing mode\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePeak area\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"17\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAuto integration (min-max)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.1-0.5 sec\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"18\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eReplicates\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.112903225806452%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003col start=\"19\" type=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003c/ol\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eBackground correction\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"42.943548387096776%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2-point\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eCertain essential minerals contents (ppm) in pasture land soils from cold desert high altitude region\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"551\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\" valign=\"top\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStudy\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003esites\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMg\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eZn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCu\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCo\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36258\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2715\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6399\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;626\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e795.34\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;81.63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80.70\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.95\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.63\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.07\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e118.68\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;9.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36420\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4713\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5605\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;545\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e804.78\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;102.63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e112.28\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e31.85\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;7.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20.20\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e \u0026plusmn;3.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e99.73\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e44076\u003csup\u003ef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1620\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9629\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;376\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e835.54\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;15.29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e130.86\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;16.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30.81\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.73\u003csup\u003ecde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n 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\u003cp\u003e48.26\u003csup\u003ef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e74.45\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32027\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2026\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6325\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;585\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e583.33\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;34.21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e84.87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;7.91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28.60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;7.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRange\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9520-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e65660\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1346-19780\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e197.70-1089.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.75-242.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.433756805807622%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.27-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e67.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.522686025408348%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.51-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.519056261343012%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.71-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e212.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean\u0026plusmn;SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) between the row\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eCertain essential minerals concentration (ppm) in road side soils from cold desert high altitude region\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"561\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStudy\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;sites\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMg\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eZn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCu\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCo\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30182\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3185\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4769\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1093\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e441.92\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;29.62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60.83\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e54.4\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52.6\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e52.30\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;8.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49270\u003csup\u003ef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;677\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10289\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1491\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e940.46\u003csup\u003eg\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;47.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e132.63\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;12.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.8\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.8\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e73.80\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28414\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1869\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1980\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;354\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e479.58\u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;31.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e59.74\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.61\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14.3\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.8\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.10\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e31958\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1917\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1493\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;160\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e540.60\u003csup\u003ebcde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;40.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e46.64\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45.6\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57.7\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.10\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33960\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2843\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1444\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;81\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e528.28\u003csup\u003ebcde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;46.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57.89\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e44.4\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e58.2\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29.7\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30765\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1007\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1559\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;114\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e420.70\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;14.81\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40.67\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n 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width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;5.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e23.9\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e89.9\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;12.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e39136\u003csup\u003ecde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2967\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2234\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;249\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e627.10\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;43.44\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e102.38\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;14.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.4\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.5\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28.3\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36099\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1062\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3249\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;337\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e582.99\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;20.71\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e79.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.657193605683837%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRange\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.61101243339254%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15490-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63570\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e802-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15900\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"15.097690941385435%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e300.30-1209\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"14.031971580817052%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.95-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e220.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.9-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e68.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.9-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e62.9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.900532859680284%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.40-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e141.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean\u0026plusmn;SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) between the row.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 4:\u003c/strong\u003e Certain essential minerals content (ppm) in river (Indus) sediment from cold desert high altitude\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"579\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eStudy sites\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFe\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMg\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eZn\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCu\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCo\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e44760\u003csup\u003eef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;6192\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5214\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;682\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e685.88\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;57.83\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e72.33\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;7.74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.32\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.10\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e36.43\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21450\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;8294\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5096\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;771\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1855.52\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1203\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1628.79\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1544\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1016\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1002\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1291\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1279\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1202\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1112\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48750\u003csup\u003ef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1239\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5157\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e949.58\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;16.44\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e119.88\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;6.84\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40.57\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.74\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51.95\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;8.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32044\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;640\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2620\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;308\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e446.18\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;10.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56.11\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60.93\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51.91\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.08\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;6.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13643\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1392\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2161\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;223\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e260.10\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;35.24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e98.95\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.44\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38.57\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63.45\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29.96\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35180\u003csup\u003ecde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2780\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4195\u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;219\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e556.23\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;28.72\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e71.03\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;6.86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19.40\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.07\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51.74\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38510\u003csup\u003ecdef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1924\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7744\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2116\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e668.36\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;74.01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e85.67\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;22.91\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.29\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e16.65\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56.92\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;15.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42769\u003csup\u003edef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2107\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6336\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;784\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e490.93\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;25.97\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e127.47\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.97\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35.39\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.78\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e94.33\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;2.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e22044\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;842\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3659\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;389\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e377.26\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;21.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e38.56\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;6.68\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.60\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.21\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.99\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30552\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1864\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2364\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;222\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e546.50\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;27.62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66.18\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;7.32\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18.44\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15.78\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40.70\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20795\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;4192\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3939\u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;179\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e288.43\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;13.92\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21.59\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;3.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.22\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.09\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.03\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1.4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32068\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;1787\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4416\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;313\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e661.28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;118.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e191.86\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;143.95\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;92.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;118\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e151.6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u0026plusmn;104\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"16.580310880829014%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eRange\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"13.471502590673575%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e186.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-68040\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1549\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-16160\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e166\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-6603\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"12.435233160621761%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e17.48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-7804\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.362694300518134%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-5025\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"10.708117443868739%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-6407\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd width=\"11.57167530224525%\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-5653\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFe-Iron, Mg-Magnesium, Mn-Manganese, Zn-Zinc, Cu-Copper, Co-Cobalt, B-Boron; Value (Mean\u0026plusmn;SE, N=6) bearing different superscripts differ significantly (P\u0026lt;0.05) between the row\u003c/p\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-sustainability","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"disu","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Sustainability](https://www.springer.com/43621)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Discover Sustainability","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Cold arid, Essential minerals, High altitude, Indus river sediment, Soil habitats ","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3961605/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3961605/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Essential minerals are the main constituents of soil ecosystems, and status of soil is directly affected by the availability of these mineral nutrients to the feed/forages and then to the livestock. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the objectives to investigate essential mineral nutrients in various soil ecosystems in cold arid region of India. The study was done in Leh-Ladakh, a cold arid region of India, under the Tibetan plateau and the part of Trans-Himalayas. For the study, soil samples from various soils (agriculture soil, pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils) were collected and analyzed for iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Boron (B). Our experimental results revealed that, Fe content varied from 9520 to 65660 ppm, whereas total mean concentration was found 32027.22±2026.57 ppm in pasture land. The total average content of Mn in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils were found 583.33±34.21, 661.28±118.77 and 582.99±20.71 ppm respectively, while values varied from 197.70-1089.00, 166-6603.00 and 300.30-1209.00 ppm respectively. The total mean concentration of Zn was reported 84.87±7.91, 191.86±143.95 and 79.14±4.39 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils, while values ranged from 3.75-242.90, 17.48-7804.00 and 2.95-220.70 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediments and road side soils. B concentration ranged from 1.71-212.60, 2.24-5653.00 and 6.44-141.30 ppm and the total mean concentration was observed as 80.10±7.06, 151.62±103.89, 36.41±2.53 ppm respectively in pasture land, Indus River sediment and road side soils. Results of our study revealed that Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn and B were found within the typical range of soil indicating that the levels of studied essential mineral nutrients are within the range in various soil ecosystems from cold arid region as far as the requirement of crop plants and livestock are concerned.","manuscriptTitle":"Evaluation and distribution of essential minerals in different soil habitats of cold arid high-altitude environment","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-04-11 08:43:12","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3961605/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-04-08T12:54:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Sustainability","date":"2024-02-16T14:50:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-sustainability","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"disu","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Sustainability](https://www.springer.com/43621)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Discover Sustainability","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"7fe8bbbb-8129-43e1-a134-10414e0d716e","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 11th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-01-06T16:03:13+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-3961605","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00582-y","journal":{"identity":"discover-sustainability","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Discover Sustainability"},"publishedOn":"2024-12-30 15:57:44","publishedOnDateReadable":"December 30th, 2024"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-04-11 08:43:12","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s43621-024-00582-y","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00582-y","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3961605","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3961605","identity":"rs-3961605","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}