Effect of form and dose of selenium on yielding and contents of macronutrients in maize

Abstract

The purpose of the conducted experiment was to estimate the influence of the form and dose of selenium on yielding and N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S content in the above ground parts of maize. The experiment was established in Wagner type pots with a capacity of 5 kg of soil in three replications. The substrate was a slightly acidic light loam with an average content of P, K, Mg and S and low Se content. Selenium was applied in the form of Na2SeO4 and Na2SeO3, and doses of: 0; 0.10; 0.25; 0.50; 0.75; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0 and 4.0 mg kg of soil. The ‘Lober’ strain of maize was used as a test plant and was cut down during the BBCH 73 phase. The conducted research demonstrated that the after entering into the soil 0.1 mgSe kg, form in which the element was used, did not affect the weight of the harvested crop corn. At all the rest selenium dosage levels the biomass cultivated in soil enriched with sodium selenate was higher than the biomass obtained after the application of sodium selenite. The application of selenium in the form of selenate (Na2SeO4) and selenite (Na2SeO3) caused a substantial increase in the content of this trace element in maize. The effect of the selenate was such that average Se content in plants was 13 times higher than the predetermined average for maize cultivated in soil with the selenite supplement. The introduction of selenium into the soil, especially in higher doses, triggered changes in the chemical composition of the maize. With the greater doses of Se(VI) the content of nitrogen, potassium and calcium content in plants decreased. The impact of that form of selenium upon phosphorus and sulphur content depended on the size of the applied doses. Selenium introduced in doses of 0.1–0.5 mg kg increased the content of P and limited the amount of S. At greater doses the reverse relationship was observed. Maize cultivated in soil enriched with Na2SeO3 contained less nitrogen and sulphur but more phosphorus, potassium, and calcium than that cultivated in soil with the selenate supplement.