Agriculture, Vol. 32 No. 1, 2026.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.18047/poljo.32.1.3
Enrichment of Sunflower Seeds and Harvest Residues with Zn and Se Through Agronomic Biofortification
Franjo Nemet
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Katarina Perić
; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Južno predgrađe 17, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Vladimir Zebec
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Vladimir Ivezić
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Lucija Galić
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Iva Nikolin
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Márk Rékási
; Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, HUN-REN, Fehérvári Street 132-144, Budapest 1116, Hungary
Péter Ragályi
; Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, HUN-REN, Fehérvári Street 132-144, Budapest 1116, Hungary
Zdenko Lončarić
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This research was focused on the effectiveness of sunflower biofortification with Zn and Se towards enriched seeds, but also a side effect on the enrichment of crop residues, which can have a residual fertilizing effect. A two-year study of sunflower biofortification was conducted with foliar application of 10, 20, and 30 g/ha Se as Na-selenate or 3 and 6 kg/ha Zn as Zn sulphate in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Biofortification did not significantly affect either the seeds or the above-ground yields, but it increased the Se and Zn concentrations in seeds and vegetative mass. The Se in seeds increased 14-44 times, whereby 7.3 g/ha Se would be sufficient to achieve 300 µg/kg Se in seed. The Zn in the seed increased up to 72 mg/kg. The efficiency of biofortification in terms of Se accumulation in seeds was 15.4 – 19.3%, and Zn only 1.73 - 3.15%, which means that significant amounts of Se and Zn remain in crop residues whose incorporation into the soil has a residual effect of Zn and Se fertilization for subsequent crops.
Keywords
foliar application; microelements; residual effect; sodium selenate; zinc sulphate
Hrčak ID:
348727
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2026.
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