analysis of different selenium levels influence on leaf area index (lai), hectare yield and selenium content in potato tubers

In this work are described results of field trials in years 2006 and 2007. In these small plot trials we observed an influence of different selenium levels (control; 12, 24, 48 and 72 kg Se . ha−1 to the soil; 200 and 400 g Se . ha−1 foliar application) on development of leaf area index during vegetation (approx. 60, 67 and 75th day after planting), hectare yield of tubers and on concentration of selenium in tubers.We found out, that development of leaf area index was significantly affected by year, variety and also by dose of applied selenium. The highest value of LAI was reached by control variant and the lowest value of LAI was reached by variants, in which we applied 48 and 72 kg Se . ha−1.Also hectare yield was significantly affected by year, variety and selenium treatment. With increasing dose of selenium hectare yield decreased. Higher decrease we observed in variants with soil application of selenium.Concentration of selenium in fresh tubers increased with increasing dose of this nutrient. The hig­hest concentration was observed in variants, where we applied selenium to the soil before planting. Substantial increase of Se–concentration (2,5–3,5× more than control variant) was observed also in variants with foliar application of selenium.