Effect of selenium foliar application on its content in winter wheat grain

The effect of foliar application of graduated Se rates (0.5, 1.0, 10 and 20 g Se/ha) on the winter wheat grain yield and Se accumulation in grain was investigated in the accurate field fertilization experiment.Selenium fertilization was realized together with the application of liquid fertilizer DAM-390 (30 kg N/ha) in the growth stage of the 6 th leaf (Zadoks = 29).Applied treatments of Se fertilization did not influence the yields of grain.These yields fluctuated within the range of from 5.98 to 6.08, 5.65 to 5.71, and 7.78 to 8.04 t/ha of grain in the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.Highly significant lower grain yields in the year 2000 comparing to the other experimental years were caused by unfavorable weather conditions.Both the rates of 10 and 20 g Se/ha highly significantly increased Se accumulation in grain in all experimental years.The average Se content in grain dry matter was 0.045 mg/kg under unfertilized treatment and with the Se rates of 10 g and 20 g/ha it increased to the value of 0.088 and 0.145 mg/kg, respectively.The total offtake of Se by grain yield increased in the similar way.It results from the experiment that the rate of 10 g Se/ha is sufficient for achieving the required Se content in winter wheat grain.