Selenium concentration in spring wheat as influenced by basal application and top dressing of selenium-enriched fertilizers

Abstract

A multisite field experiment was conducted to study the effect of topdressed Se-enriched Ca(NO3)2 (CN) and basal applied NPK on the selenium (Se) concentration in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Selenium was applied either through CN (at the rates of 0, 6.45, and 12.91 g Se ha−1) or NPK (5.83 g Se ha−1). Selenium concentration in wheat grains increased consistently with increasing rate of Se-enriched CN or NPK. However, the superiority of Se-enriched CN over NPK in raising the Se concentration in wheat grain depended on location and growth conditions. At the same rate both methods of Se-application were found to be equally effective in raising the Se concentration of wheat grains. The Se concentration of grain was generally higher in the light textured soils than in the medium to heavy textured soils. Without Se application, the Se-concentration in wheat grain was about 16µg kg−1 which is regarded insufficient to meet the Se requirement for Se in animal and human. Calcium nitrate enriched with 25 mg Se kg−1 (6.45 g Se ha−1) increased the Se concentration in wheat grain to a desired level.