Cobalt Content of New England Soils in Relation to Cobalt Levels in Forages for Ruminant Animals

Abstract The Co content of soils and common forage plants was low and related to reported areas of Co deficiency in ruminant animals in two extensive areas of granitic drift deposits in New England. One of the areas extends from southestern Maine to southeastern New Hampshire, encompassing an area mantled by granitic drifts from the White Mountains. The other area occurs in southeastern Massachusetts and includes Cape Cod. The low Co soils within these areas are Podzols, Brown Podzolic soils and Ground‐Water Podzols of sand to fine sandy loam textures. These soils have 5 ppm. or less Co, and legumes grown in them have 0.07 ppm. or less Co. Similar soils outside of the areas noted and soils of loam, silt loam and clay surface textures have sufficient Co to produce legumes with adequate amounts of Co. Grasses with very few exceptions had low amounts of Co irrespective of soil.