Abstract
Agronomic biofortification is one of the main strategies for alleviation of micronutrient deficiencies in human populations and promoting sustainable production of food and feed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N)fertilization on biofortification of maize crop (Zea mays L.) with zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) grown on a micronutrient deficient soil under greenhouse conditions. Factorial design experiment was set under greenhouse conditions. The experiment consisted of two levels of each N, Zn, Fe and Se. The levels for N were 125 and 250 mg N kg−1 soil; Zn were 1 and 5 mg Zn kg−1 soil; levels of Fe were 0 and 10 mg Fe kg−1 soil; levels of Se were 0 and 0.02 mg Se kg−1 soil. An additional experiment was also conducted to study the effect of the Zn form applied as a ZnO or ZnSO4 on shoot growth, shoot Zn concentration and total shoot Zn uptake per plant. Shoot Zn concentrations increased by increasing soil Zn application both with ZnSO4 and ZnO treatments, but the shoot Zn concentration and total Zn uptake were much greater with ZnSO4 than the ZnO application. Under given experimental conditions, increasing soil N supply improved shoot N concentration; but had little effect on shoot dry matter production. The concentrations of Zn and Fe in shoots were significantly increased by increasing N application. In case of total uptake of Zn and Fe, the positive effect of N nutrition was more pronounced. Although Se soil treatment had significant effect, N application showed no effect on Se concentration and accumulation in maize shoots. The obtained results show that N fertilization is an effective tool in improving the Zn and Fe status of silage maize and contribute to the better-quality feed.
Highlights
Agronomic biofortification of field crops with micronutrients is one of the main strategies in sustainable production of healthy and nutrient rich food and feed [1]
Human health problems are associated with micronutrient deficiency worldwide, especially in developing countries, and the productivity of farm animals grown in these countries is negatively affected [2,3,4]
According to Hill and Shannon (2019) [7], grazing animals are often exposed to high risk of reduced Zn intake because the pastures usually contain inadequate Zn concentration for a proper animal nutrition that is associated with low amount of phytoavailable Zn in soils
Summary
Agronomic biofortification of field crops with micronutrients is one of the main strategies in sustainable production of healthy and nutrient rich food and feed [1]. Low amount of phytoavailable micronutrients in cultivated soils and commonly consumed food and feed crops are main reason of the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in humans [5,6]. Enrichment of feed crops with Se is of great importance for animal nutrition and health [8]. Selenium and selenoproteins, such as selenomethionine and selenocysteine, play a role in several critical biological functions in human and animal body and prevent development of various important diseases [9,10]. Micronutrient deficiency affects all phases of food and feed production chain, from field to the final consumer
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