Biofortification of Common Wheat Grains with Combined Ca, Mg, and K through Foliar Fertilisation

Common wheat grains are characterised by low concentrations of Ca, K, and Mg, which can be partially removed with the bran during milling processes. This preliminary study investigated the effects of foliar fertilisation at the earing stage with nitrates of Ca, Mg, and K contemporarily, together with a small amount of urea and protein hydrolysate as potential carriers, in two contrasting common wheat varieties, i.e., Solehio (medium proteins content) and Vivendo (high proteins content). Based on the preliminary grain-to-straw concentration ratio of these minerals, two biofortification targets were applied in order to increase their grain contents by +20% and +40%, in comparison with untreated controls. Here, we demonstrate that the highest fertilisation dose was effective in increasing grain K by 13% and Mg by 16% in Vivendo, and Ca by 7% in Solehio, with no boosting effects of the co-formulants urea and protein hydrolysate. In addition to some qualitative benefits due to nitrates supply, negligible phytotoxicity symptoms were observed, as revealed by the NDVI vegetational index dynamics. Although the biofortification target was not fully achieved, this study firstly reports the possibility to increase at the same time Mg and K, and to a lower extent Ca in wheat grains. It is concluded that efficient multiple biofortification should consider a variety-depend response, while further studies are necessary to investigate the effects of different fertilisation timings and doses for improving the poor mineral translocation to the grains.

Ion exchange with copper-tetraamine on NaA (LTA) type synthesised zeolite

A crop growing in the right quantity and quality can only be secured if nutrients are provided in an adequate quantity and available form. Copper (Cu) has primary importance among microelements in growing winter wheat. Lack of Cu hinders nitrogen uptake by plants. Therefore, increasing bioavailability is important in crop production. It has been conducted successful foliar fertilisation experiments with Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate for several years. The efficiency of the applied compound was enhanced by the application of a retarded nutrient-supply. To secure retardation, ion exchange was carried out in NaA type synthesized zeolite with Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate. Structure of Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate, and zeolite ion-exchanged by copper-tetraamine was analysed with a derivatograph and X-ray diffraction. Derivatograph analyses revealed heat stability. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that copper-tetramine ions exchanged a significant part of the sodium ions of zeolite in ion exchange.

Response of winter oilseed rape to differentiated foliar fertilisation

This article presents results of a three-year field experiment laid out on medium textured soil, in north-eastern Poland. Winter oilseed rape was sprayed with foliar fertilisers AgravitaActive 48 (AA48) - NPK 8:8.7:16.6 and AgravitaActive70 (AA70) - NPK 10:22.7:6.6 at different phases of the crop’s vegetative growth (BBCH 14, BBCH 35). The impact of the fertilisers on the yield of seeds, straw, total protein, crude fat, and on the content of macro- and micronutrients in aerial parts (BBCH 20 and 89) and roots (BBCH 20) of oilseed rape was evaluated. Foliar nutrition of oilseed rape plants with AA48 and AA70 significantly increased the seed yield of oilseed rape. The best yield-stimulating effect was achieved after the application of AA48 in autumn. Fertilisation of oilseed rape in that season of the year caused an increase in seed yield by 430 kg ha-1. Each fertiliser contributed to a rise in the yield of protein and yield of crude fat but had no effect on the content of magnesium, copper, and zinc in seeds.

Effect of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum Bacteria and L-Alpha Proline Amino Acid on Iron Content in Soil and Triticum aestivum L. Plants in Sustainable Agriculture System

Research was conducted in Poland in 2017–2019 at Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce. It aimed at determining the effect of the bacteria Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, the amino acid L-alpha proline, and the mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime on iron content in soil during the period of rapid growth of spring wheat plants, as well as in spring wheat grain and straw. The following two factors were examined: (I) biological products: untreated control, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, L-alpha proline, Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline; (II) mineral nitrogen fertiliser regime: nonfertilised control, 60 kg Nּha−1, 90 kg Nּha−1, 90 kg Nּha−1 + foliar fertilisation. The study demonstrated that, during the period of rapid spring wheat plant growth, Fe content was the highest in the soil following an application of Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum + L-alpha proline + mineral nitrogen fertiliser applied at the rate of 90 kg Nּha−1. This combination resulted in the highest concentration and uptake of iron by spring wheat grain, whereas for straw, the same result was also achieved following mineral nitrogen fertiliser at a rate of 90 kg Nּha−1 + foliar fertilisation.

Selenium Biofortification of Wheat as a Strategy to Improve Human Nutrition

This paper analyses the effects of soil and foliar fertilization with sodium selenate (VI) on the selenium content in spring wheat grain. The research was carried out at the Departmental Experimental Station of the Institute of Agriculture WULS in Skierniewice in 2018 and 2019. The dose of selenium used was 5.00 g Se·ha−1 in various development stages of spring wheat. The results showed that selenium fertilisation did not affect the size of the grain yield, but both soil and foliar fertilisation significantly increased the content of selenium in wheat grain compared to the control group. The highest Se content was obtained with the method of soil fertilisation combined with the foliar application with a total dose of 10.00 g·ha-1 Se in the stem elongation phase (S + F2), and in the tillering and stem elongation phase (S + F1 + F2), which resulted in the values of 0.615 and 0.719 mg·kg−1 Se in grain, respectively. On this basis, it was concluded that the best time to carry out foliar fertilisation treatment is in the stem elongation phase (BBCH 30–39). The results show that the greatest increase in selenium content in the grain is achieved with soil and foliar fertilisation combined.

PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURATION IN SEEDS OF SWEET SOGHUM FOR FOLIAR FERTILISATION WITH SILICATE

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate physiological quality in seeds of sweet sorghum grown under semi-arid conditions, and to determine the age of physiological maturity of the seeds as a function of the foliar application of potassium silicate. The experiment was carried out at the Curu Valley Experimental Farm, in Pentecoste in the state of Ceará, during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015. The BRS 506 and BRS 511 varieties were used, under foliar fertilisation with potassium silicate at doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mL.ha -1, in addition to the control lots (with no application); harvesting was at four periods, 30, 37, 44 and 51 days after full bloom (DAB). The percentage and speed of germination were evaluated, together with the accelerated ageing test and seedling growth. The seeds presented greater than 90% germination from 37 DAB, reaching high seedling vigour at 51 DAB. Foliar fertilisation with potassium silicate under the conditions of the experiment resulted in an increase in the physiological quality of the seeds. The BRS 506 and BRS 511 cultivars displayed the highest physiological quality between 49 and 53 DAF.

Investigation of Foliar Fertilization in Maize Production

The experiment was designed to study the effect of foliar fertilisation on the yield and some generative factors of maize in 2016. It was set on the territory of SZTE Tangazdaság Ltd in Hódmezővásárhely meadow chernozem soil. Three different foliar fertilizer products were applied in three replication randomised small plot experiment. The products were sprayed out individually and combined with each other as well, so there were six treatments and the control. In 2016 the amount of precipitation in the vegetation period of maize was higher than the average by 23.7 mm. Therefore this year was favourable for maize production. The data obtained during the experiment were processed by single factor variant analysis. Owing to the favourable dispersion of rainfall in the vegetative period of maize, the yields were relatively high. The average yield harvested from the control plots was 11.37 t/ha, and that of the treated parcels ranged from 11.61 and 12.86 t/ha. The foliar fertilizer products and their combinations increased the yield of maize, but this growing was not significant. By the using of foliar fertilization the generative factors of maize did not change significantly.