The effect of foliar application of copper on content of this element in winter wheat grain
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Instytut Uprawy Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach
Abstract
Description
Copper is an essential element for plants, animals and
people in small, but absolutely necessary quantities. Deficiency
of this element in the diet causes many health problems at animals
and people. The content of Cu in wheat grain in Poland has
decreased by about 20% over the past 30 years, which adversely
affects its nutritional value. The aim of the study was to examine
the possibility of increasing the copper content in winter wheat
grain by foliar application of this element. In 2003–2006, six oneyear
field trials were conducted with copper foliar fertilization
of 10 varieties of winter wheat. Spraying with copper sulfate
at a dose of 305 g ha-1 was performed in spring in full tillering
stage. The average density of copper in the grain was at a very
low level of 2,4–2,6 mg kg-1. Such a content is not enough in
terms of nutritional needs of livestock. Single copper spray did
not cause a statistically significant increase in the content of this
element in the grain of any of the tested varieties. At the same
time, varieties that reacted with the highest, approximately a 20%
increase in yield to the application of copper, showed a 11–12%
decrease in Cu content of grain. This decline was most likely the
dilution effect.
Keywords
wheat, copper content, foliar application, dilution
Citation
Polish Journal of Agronomy
2011, 4, 3–6