Effects of cereal supplementation with selenium

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Human Nutrition

Background:

• Selenium (Se) is a vital micronutrient for human and animal health.
• Serbia is identified as a region with low selenium status.
• The soil-plant system is the primary natural source of selenium for food chains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate methods for increasing selenium levels in crops.
• To evaluate the efficacy of foliar selenium application on cereals.
• To determine optimal selenium application rates for wheat and corn.

Main Methods:

• Field trials were conducted on various soil types.
• Foliar application of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) was applied to cereals.
• Selenium uptake and distribution in plants were analyzed under different growth factors.

Main Results:

• Foliar selenium application significantly increased selenium concentrations in wheat and corn.
• Application rates of 6 g Se/ha and 12 g Se/ha yielded notable increases in crop selenium content.
• Wheat selenium levels ranged from 42-67 µg/kg (6 g/ha) to 65-180 µg/kg (12 g/ha).
• Corn selenium levels ranged from 19-36 µg/kg (6 g/ha) to 31-46 µg/kg (12 g/ha).

Conclusions:

• Foliar selenium application is an effective strategy to enhance selenium levels in cereals.
• This method can help improve selenium content in the food supply in low-selenium regions like Serbia.
• Optimizing application rates is crucial for achieving desired selenium enrichment in crops.