FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SELENIUM, ZINC AND COPPER IN ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.) BIOFORTIFICATION

Authors : Klara PETKOVIĆ, Maja MANOJLOVIĆ, Peder LOMBNÆS, Ranko ČABILOVSKI, đorđe KRSTIĆ, Zdenko LONČARIĆ, Peder LOMBNÆS

Pages : 81-90

Doi:10.17557/tjfc.569363

View : 31 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2019-06-14

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Biofortification of forage crops has an important role in improving the quality of plants used for animal nutrition. The field experiments were conducted in three consecutive years in Subotica, Serbia, in order to investigate the effect of Se, Zn, and Cu foliar fertilization on the yield, Se and Zn contents and nutrient efficiency, as well as on other mineral compositions of alfalfa hay. The treatments were as follows: i); control without fertilization, ii); 5 g Se ha-1, iii); 10 g Se ha-1, iv); 0.5 kg Zn ha-1, v); 1 kg Zn ha-1, vi); the combination of these two elements insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.5 kg Zn ha-1 and Se 10 g ha-1); and vii); 2% Cu solution. The application of Se, Zn, and Cu had no effect on dry yield or on crude protein, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Co contents in alfalfa hay. However, Se, Zn, and Cu fertilization significantly increased the contents of Se, Zn, and Cu in alfalfa hay. The results showed that Se and Zn contents in plant biomass were significantly correlated with the applied doses of Se insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.99); and Zn insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r=0.99);. The production years of alfalfa and the weather conditions proved to be significant factors in fertilization efficiency.
Keywords : Animal feed, fertilization, fertilization efficiency, microelements