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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Combined zinc and selenium biofortification in field peas under Mediterranean conditions

Maria D. Reynolds-Marzal A , Angélica M. Rivera-Martín A , Nuno M. Pinheiro B , Sara M. Rodrigo A , Oscar Santamaria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5087-6519 A C * and Maria J. Poblaciones https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1559-2382 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Agronomy and Forest Environment Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avenida Adolfo Suárez s/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain.

B INIAV, National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research, Estrada de Gil Vaz, 7350-228 Elvas, Portugal.

C Department of Plant Production and Forest Resources, University of Valladolid, Av. Madrid 44, 34004 Palencia, Spain.

* Correspondence to: oscar.santamaria@uva.es

Handling Editor: Shahid Hussain

Crop & Pasture Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/CP21711
Submitted: 8 June 2021  Accepted: 5 November 2021   Published online: 14 February 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

The intake of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), two essential micronutrients, is deficient worldwide both in humans and in livestock. This deficiency could be alleviated through agronomic biofortification, a practice that increases their concentrations in edible parts through mineral application. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in a 2-year field experiment (2017/18, 2018/19) the suitability of field peas to increase Zn and Se grain concentration after soil Zn application (50 kg Zn ha−1; no Zn) and foliar application (0; 10 g Se ha−1; 8 kg Zn ha−1; 10 g Se ha−1 + 8 kg Zn ha−1). Zinc bioavailability (estimated by the molar ratio phytate/mineral), grain yield, thousand grain weight, grain crude protein and mineral status (magnesium, calcium and iron) of the grain were also evaluated by following a split-split plot design. For biofortification purposes, the combined foliar application of Zn (8 kg Zn ha−1) and Se (10 g Se ha−1) increased Zn and Se concentrations in grain by around 30% and 73%, respectively, as well as Zn bioavailability, decreasing the molar ratio phytate/Zn by 30%. The additional soil application of 50 kg Zn ha−1 increased grain yield by 16%. Other nutritional parameters, such as content of protein or other essential minerals, were also improved (or at least not negatively affected) by the combined application of Zn and Se. All of these aspects evidenced the suitability of field peas for use in biofortification programmes through the simultaneous application of Zn and Se, which might also cheapen application costs.

Keywords: biofortification, crude protein, grain yield, mineral status, Pisum sativum, rainfed conditions, sodium selenate, zinc sulfate.


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