Open AccessEFFECT OF SELENIUM FERTILIZATION ON THE CONCENTRATION OF SELENIUM, OTHER MINERALS, AND ASCORBIC ACID IN POTATOES
Author(s) -
MUNSHI CYRUS B.,
MONDY NELL I.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of food quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.568
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1745-4557
pISSN - 0146-9428
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4557.1991.tb00091.x
Subject(s) - selenium , ascorbic acid , chemistry , human fertilization , zoology , food science , agronomy , biology , organic chemistry
The effect of selenium fertilization on the concentration of selenium, other minerals, and ascorbic acid of Katahdin potato tubers was studied during each of two years. Sodium selenite was banded to the soil at rates of 5.6 (2.5), 11.2 (5.0) and 16.2 (7.5) kg/ha (ppm of soil). The tuber selenium concentration was increased significantly (p<0.01) from 0.47 ppm to 0.93 ppm fresh weight. However, selenium levels in the soil greater than 5.0 ppm did not result in further increases in the selenium concentration of tubers. No significant effects due to selenium fertilization were observed for the concentration of other minerals and ascorbic acid. Similar trends were observed during both years of the study. In areas where the soil is low in selenium, addition of this element could prove useful in increasing the selenium content of potatoes, a very important vegetable in the American diet.