Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effects of selenium on herbage yield, selenium nutrition and quality of alfalfa

Author(s):

Huafeng Hu ^{1, 2}, Chengxiao Hu ^1*, Xiaolei Jie ², Shiliang Liu ³, Xiao Guo ², Dangling Hua ³, Chuang Ma ³, Jianwei Lu ¹, Hongen Liu ¹

Recieved Date: 2009-11-18, Accepted Date: 2010-03-28

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium (Se) foliar application on the herbage yield and quality of alfalfa at Huayuankou Town in Zhengzhou City. Se fertilizer was foliar applied at four levels (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg kg^-1). The results indicated that appropriate Se application could significantly increase herbage yield of alfalfa and the highest herbage yield occurred in the Se₅₀ treatment and was raised by 1121 kg hm^-2, compared to those of the Se₀treatment. Foliar application of Se also remarkably improved Se uptakes by alfalfa, with the highest Se accumulation in the Se₂₀₀ treatment. The highest Se content and accumulation were increased by 9096.42% and 9258.31%, respectively, compared with those of the Se₀ treatment, and Se content and accumulation were all positively correlated with the rates of Se application. Appreciate Se application also markedly increased phosphorus (P) absorption. The highest P content and accumulation were observed in the Se₁₀₀ treatment and raised by 23.53% and 40.75%, respectively, compared to those of the Se₀ treatment. However, Se application had no significant effect on calcium (Ca) uptakes. Moreover, appreciate application of Se significantly increased crude fat content, with the highest crude fat content in the Se₁₀₀ treatment. The highest crude fat content and yield were raised by 2.18% and 125.35 kg hm^-2, compared to that of the Se₀ treatment. However, Se foliar application had no remarkable effects on contents of crude protein, ash and fiber and the highest yield of them occurred in the Se₅₀ treatment. The results obtained in this study suggest that Se fertilizer is conducive for the improvement of herbage yield and quality of alfalfa.

Keywords:

Alfalfa (Medicaco sativa L.), selenium, yield, quality, calcium, phosphorus, microelement

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 792-795

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