![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
An experiment was conducted in North Florida to study pasture fertilization with selenium as a method of increasing intake of this nutrient by livestock. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) was sprayed with sodium selenate at rates of 0, 24, 120, 240, and 480 g/ha of selenium and forage samples were collected for analyses at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 18 weeks after spraying. The bermudagrass from 24 g/ha selenium plots had non‐toxic but adequate levels of selenium for livestock at all clipping dates. The 120, 240, and 480 g/ha selenium application rates resulted in toxic forage levels of selenium up to the sixth week after spraying. However, by the twelfth week, the selenium levels were non‐toxic and at the same time adequate to meet livestock reguirements. At 18 weeks after spraying, the levels of selenium in the forage were also non‐toxic and adeguate for livestock. The results of this study suggest that spraying with 24 g/ha selenium can be an adeguate means to meet reguirements of this mineral for grazing livestock.
Notes
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. R‐02870. This research was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under CRSR special grant number 86‐CRSR‐22843 managed by the Caribbean Basin Advisory Group (CBAG).