engleski

Nitrogen fertilization affected zinc and selenium biofortification in silage maize

Over the recent years, biofortification of forage crops has become even more important, due to the improvement in livestock nutrition, but it has also had an indirect positive impact on the human diet. This two-year study with silage maize was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrogen and microelement (Zn and Se) fertilization on yield and on the microelement composition of maize silage. Two field experiments were conducted using a two-factorial split-plot design. In both experiments, the first factor was nitrogen fertilization in three doses: 0 ; 120 ; 180, and 240 kg N/ha. The first experiment included nitrogen fertilization and Zn fertilization as the second factor with the following foliar treatments: control ; 1.5 kg Zn/ha and 1.5 kg Zn/ha + urea solution. Besides nitrogen fertilization, the second experiment studied the influence of Se application (10 g Se/ha). Nitrogen fertilization increased the biomass yield of silage maize, as well as Cu and Mn concentration in the dry mass. Application of Se and Zn did not affect the biomass yield, but it had a positive effect on Se and Zn concentration in plants. Application of Zn and urea in combination proved to be more efficient in increasing Zn concentration in plants when compared to Zn applied alone. Nitrogen and fertilization with Zn and Se can be a good tool in fodder plant biofortification because their application led to a yield increase (Zn), but at the same time to an improvement in the mineral composition of maize biomass, with essential elements (Zn and Se).

biofortification ; selenium ; zinc ; forage crops ; nitrogen ; silage maize

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