New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science
abstracts
Selenium concentration in wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain as influenced
by method, rate, and timing of sodium selenate application
D. Curtin
R. Hanson
T. N. Lindley
R. C. Butler
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research
Private Bag 4704
Christchurch, New Zealand
email: curtind@crop.cri.nz
Abstract Field trials were conducted to identify effective methods
of increasing selenium (Se) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown on low-Se
soils in Canterbury, New Zealand. Various rates (5–20 g Se/ha) and methods
(soil-applied fertiliser, seed treatment, foliar application at flowering)
of applying Se (sodium selenate) were evaluated in autumn- and spring-sown
crops on an irrigated site at Wakanui and on a dryland site at Methven. Several
Se fertiliser treatments were included to examine the effects of timing of
application (Se applied at sowing or growth stage 31) and to determine whether
applying other fertilisers (superphosphate, urea) with Se would affect its
uptake. Two cultivars were grown in the autumn and spring trials at each location.
Grain Se content averaged 0.03 mg/kg in the controls (no Se added), increasing
to 0.4–0.5 mg/kg where Se was added at 20 g/ha using the most effective
application methods—foliar spray and fertiliser at growth stage 31. Fertiliser
at sowing was less effective in raising grain Se than fertiliser at growth
stage 31, particularly for autumn-sown crops. The results suggested that the
plant availability of applied Se can decrease rapidly in the soil and, to be
most effective, fertiliser Se should be applied when the crop is beginning
to grow rapidly in spring. Grain Se levels for the irrigated site were close
to those in the corresponding treatment at the dryland site, even though yield
was much greater where irrigation was used. Application of superphosphate (200
kg/ha) or urea (100 kg/ha) did not have a large or consistent effect on grain
Se. Cultivar effects on grain Se were either small or not significant. For
the most effective application methods (fertiliser at growth stage 31; foliar
spray), grain Se increased by c. 0.02 mg/kg for an increase in Se rate of 1
g/ha.
Keywords wheat; selenium application rate; selenium fertiliser; foliar
spray; seed treatment; selenium recovery in grain
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2006, Vol. 34: 329–339
0014–0671/06/3403–0329 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2006
H06058; Online publication date 20 November 2006. Received 12 June 2006;
accepted 29 September 2006
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