Seasonal variations in chemical composition of leaves and stems of Atriplex cordobensis (Gandoger et Stuckert), female and male plants.

The edible biomass of Atriplex spp is a very important feed reserve for cat tle in arid and semiarid regions of the world. The aim of this work was to analyse the seasonal changes in chemical composition of leaves and stems of both feminine and masculine plants of A. cordobensis. The results show a s imilar behavior pattern for all mineral elements, mainly during the vegetat ive growth phase. Na was the most abundant element. Protein content was sig nificantly higher in leaves than in stems throughout the year, in both fema les and males. The chemical composition of A. cordobensis varies seasonally and according to the plant part considered, the leaves having the greatest amounts of minerals and protein principally during the vegetative phase. T he high protein and nutrient contents of A, cordobensis adequately meet the nutritional requirements of cattle in dry marginal areas.