Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.P008
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, P008 (2025)
Selenium fertilization and its content in pasture sward
Ewelina Krukow1*, Halina Lipińska1, Mariusz Kulik1
1 Department of Grassland and Landscape Planning, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: ewelina.krukow@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential element that plays a key role in various physiological processes in horses. It has a significant impact on health and welfare. The element is a component of selenoproteins involved in various physiological processes (e.g. antioxidant functions). Selenium deficiency can impair the functioning of the immune system and adversely affect reproduction. It is also the cause of nutritional muscular dystrophy. To prevent these deficiencies, attention should be paid to proper animal nutrition, including ensuring not only the right amount of feed, but also its quality. A optimal feed for horses is pasture greenery or meadow hay, which, due to its multi-species and diverse botanical composition, is a valuable source of macro and microelements, depending on their abundance in the soil. Therefore, usually, the natural content of selenium in grass is insufficient in relation to the animals’ demand for this element, which is why its supplementation is necessary. Increasing the supply of selenium in feed is possible by fortifying plants with this element. This is possible through the use of agrotechnical treatments, in particular fertilization of plants. The conducted study aimed at assessing the effect of biofortification with selenium on its content in plants of grass communities. The field tests included: 3 seed mixtures of grasses and legumes (with a varied species and variety composition, including one dedicated to horses), 2 methods of use: pasture (simulated) and mowing (meadow). In the pasture variant, the grass sward is mown 5 times, while in the meadow variant 3 times during the vegetation season. The preparation containing selenium was applied foliarly in different doses: 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 l ha-1 and plant development stages (height 10 and 15 cm). A total of 192 samples of plant material were tested for the Se content and basic macronutrients. The preliminary study, conducted in the 2024 vegetation season, confirms the occurrence of a statistically significant correlation between fertilization with selenium preparation and the content of this element in biomass. These results indicate the validity of the hypotheses and justify the need for further research.
Keywords: biofortification, selenium, grass, pastures, horses
How to cite
E. Krukow, H. Lipińska, M. Kulik, 2025. Selenium fertilization and its content in pasture sward. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.P008