Mineral characteristics of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) genotypes grown in Sangla region of Himachal Pradesh

The contents of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, iron and sodium in various samples of buckwheat were analyzed. Wide variations in potassium, phospohorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, iron and sodium ranged from 441.3 to 576.3 mg/100g, 242.9 to 370 mg/100g, 50.6 to 95.5 mg/100g, 186.5 to 303 mg/100g, 1.9 to 4.2 mg/100g, 1.1 to 1.7 mg/100g, 0.62 to 0.80 mg/100g, 3 to 4.4 mg/100g and 9.3 to 20.8 mg/100g, in that order. There were variations in the contents of these minerals among various buckwheat samples examined. Nutritional contribution of buckwheat as a dietary source of these minerals was estimated.