Determination of some macro and micro elements in grain of winter barley genotypes

Abstract

Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine the content of some macro and micro elements in grain of winter barley genotypes, as well as, to identify the relationships between those elements and grain yield. The experiment was carried out during the period of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 on the research fields of the Faculty of Agriculture, "Goce Delchev" - University, in two locations in the Republic of Macedonia, Ovche Pole and Strumica. The total 21 genotypes were used as an experimental material, of which 5 were Macedonian, 2 were Croatian, 2 were Serbian and 12 genotypes originate from Bulgaria. The trial was arranged as randomized complete block design with three replications for each genotype and location. Microwave digestion method was used to destroy the organic matrix to determine the content of Na, Mg, P, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn. The content of all elements was carried out by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). During the period of study, the concentration of all examined elements was higher in genotypes grown in Strumica locality compare to Ovche Pole. In both locations, for all analyzed properties were found significant differences between examined barley genotypes. In Ovche Pole locality, the genotype Line 2 was the richer with macro and micro elements, while in Strumica locality the genotypes Izvor and NS 565 2R. Generally in both locations, barley genotypes were poor with macro and micro elements. In both locations, was not found significant correlation between content of macro and micro elements and grain yield. Using PCA analysis, two main components were extracted for the study conducted in Ovche Pole and three components in Strumica locality.

Keywords

• barley
• elements
• yield
• mass-spectrometer
• correlation