Precision Agriculture as Input for the Rice Grain (Oryza sativa L.) Biofortification with Selenium

Abstract

Using two rice genotypes as a test system (OP1505 and OP1509), the aim of this study was to develop an agronomic workflow for Se biofortification through foliar fertilization (with sodium selenate and sodium selenite). During the biofortification process, the state of the culture (slope, surface drainage, water lines and normalized differences vegetation index—NDVI), using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles synchronized by global positioning system (GPS) was further assessed. It was found that after sowing, the water-drainage pattern became profoundly altered, following the artificial pattern, created by grooves between plots. NDVI values, compared to the control, did not show significant differences. These data were correlated with physiological monitoring during biofortification. Furthermore, it was found by eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges, that the application of 300 g Se ha−1 did not show any toxicity effects in the biofortified plants. In the context of innovation, it was concluded that the application of precision agriculture techniques in conjunction with leaf-gas exchange measurements allow for an efficient monitoring of the experimental field conditions and the development of the rice cycle during the implementation of the biofortification workflow.

Characterization of a Triticum aestivum L. Experimental Field to Implement an Agronomic Biofortification Workflow

“…The soil samples were processed and the determination of moisture content, organic matter content, pH, and electrical conductivity were conducted according to [5] with the minor change that implied using a rectangular grid of 23 × 22 m. An XRF analyzer (model XL3t 950 32 He GOLDD +) was used to measure the mineral content of soil samples under helium atmosphere [6]. The colorimetric parameters (L*-lightness of each sample varying between dark (0) and light (100); a*-color variations between green (−60) and red (+60); and b*-color variations between blue (−60) and yellow (+60)) of the soil samples were analyzed (in triplicate) using a Minolta CR 400 colorimeter (Minolta Corp., Ramsey, NJ, USA) according to [7].…”