Effects of Foliar Organic Selenium Application During the Main Season on Ratoon Rice Yield, Grain Quality, and...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Nutrition
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Growing global demand for rice necessitates sustainable production strategies.
• Selenium (Se) biofortification is crucial for enhancing nutritional value and crop resilience.
• Ratoon rice systems offer potential for increased yield and resource efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid selenium (EDTA-Se) foliar application on ratoon rice yield, quality, and Se accumulation.
• To determine optimal application timing of EDTA-Se during the main rice season for ratoon crop benefits.
• To evaluate genotype-specific responses of rice varieties to Se biofortification.

Main Methods:

• Field experiment with two rice varieties (FLYX1, JLYHZ) over two years.
• Foliar application of EDTA-Se at key growth stages of the main rice season.
• Systematic analysis of yield components, processing, appearance, and nutritional quality, including Se speciation.

Main Results:

• Application at heading and seven days post-heading stages yielded optimal results for ratoon rice.
• Ratoon yield increased by 6.45% due to enhanced grain filling rate and spikelets per panicle.
• Significant improvements in processing quality (milled rice rate) and appearance quality (reduced chalky grain rate) were observed.
• Elevated protein content and increased selenomethionine accumulation were associated with quality improvements.
• Genotype-specific differences in Se conversion and accumulation were noted.

Conclusions:

• Foliar EDTA-Se application during the main season synergistically optimizes ratoon rice yield and quality.
• This strategy effectively achieves selenium biofortification in ratoon rice.
• Provides a basis for improving ratoon rice quality, efficiency, and producing Se-enriched rice.