This study concerned the effect of different intercropping systems (alternating rows and alternating strips) of maize and soybean compared with single cropping, in combination with different fertilisers (biofertiliser, organic fertiliser, and urea) on the potential availability of magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) from grain, through their ratio with phytate (as inhibitor) and β-carotene (as promoter). The higher grain yield and land equivalent ratio obtained under alternating rows + biofertiliser treatment demonstrated the improved ability of crops in close proximity for better utilisation of existing agro-ecological conditions. Alternating rows + organic fertiliser decreased the molar ratios phytate : β-carotene, phytate : Fe, phytate : Mg and phytate : Zn, indicating increased availability of the mineral elements in both crops. However, alternating strips + organic fertiliser contributed mostly to an increase in β-carotene, Mg, Fe and Zn concentrations in soybean. Increased grain yield of both crops was followed by decrease in β-carotene and increase in phytate, particularly in maize. In soybean, β-carotene could be considered as the main contributor to Fe availability. Accordingly, cropping in alternating rows or strips, combined with biofertilisers, could serve as fortification measures for improved nutritional quality of maize and soybean grain, without grain yield losses.

Deficiencies of mineral elements in human nutrition could be surpassed by crop fortification. One of the prevalent measures of fortification is foliar fertilization. The aim of this study was to determine the content and availability of the mineral nutrients Mg, Fe and Zn, together with phytate, as an anti-nutritive factor, and β-carotene as a promoter of mineral nutrient availability in grain of two soybean cultivars (Nena and Laura) treated with different non-standard foliar fertilizers (mainly based on plant extracts). Generally, a negative correlation between Fe and phytate indicated that factors which decrease phytate and increase β-carotene could be primarily responsible for Fe utilization by humans and animals. Zlatno inje (based on manure) had the highest impact on increasing the grain yield and decreasing the ratios between phytate and mineral elements in Nena grain, while for Laura, it was generally Zircon (based on an extract of Echinacea purpurea L), increasing also availability of mineral elements.Keywords: β-carotene, fortification, iron, magnesium, phytate, zinc 356Journal of Central European Agriculture, 2016, 17(2), p.356-368 DOI: 10.5513/JCEA01/17.2.1715 Rezime Nedostatak mineralnih elemenata u ljudskoj ishrani se može prevazići fortifikacijom useva. Najčešće korišćena mera je upotreba folijarnih đubriva. Istraživanje ima za cilj da utvrdi sadržaj i pristupačnost mineralnih nutrienata Mg, Fe i Zn, zajedno sa fitatom kao anti-nutritivnim faktorom i β-karotenom kao promoterom koji utiču na pristupačnost mineralnih nutrienata u semenu dve sorte soje (Nena i Laura) tretiranih različitim folijarnim đubrivima (uglavnom na bazi biljnih ekstrakata). Negativna korelacija između Fe i fitata ukazuje da bi faktori koji smanjuju sadržaj fitata i povećavaju sadržaj β-karotena mogli biti primarno odgovorni za Fe usvajanje kod čoveka i životinja. Zlatno inje (đubrivo na bazi stajnjaka) je pokazalo najveći uticaj na povećanje prinosa i smanjenje odnosa fitata i mineralnih elemenata u zrnu Nene, dok je kod Laure najveći uticaj ispoljio Cirkon (na bazi ekstrakta Echinacea purpurea L), povećavajući takođe pristupačnost minerlanih elemenata.Ključne reči: β-karoten, cink, fitat, fortifikacija, gvožđe, magnezijum Detaljan rezime Nedostatak mineralnih elemenata u ljudskoj ishrani se može prevazići povećanjem njihovog sadržaja putem fortifikacije. Folijarna primena nutrienata omogućava njihovu bržu penetraciju kroz list, uz brži odgovor biljke. Biljna hrana može da sadrži antinutriente (kao što je fitat) koji onemogućavaju apsorpciju i iskorišćenje mineralnih nutrienata od strane monogastričnih organizama, kao i promotere (kao što je β-karoten) koji povećavaju pristupačnost mineralnih nutrijenata. Cilj ogleda je bio da se odredi sadržaj i potencijalna pristupačnost mineralnih nutrienata Mg, Fe i Zn, zajedno sa fitatom, kao anti-nutritivnim faktorom i β-karotenom, kao promoterom u soji tretiranoj različitim nestandardnim folijarnim đubrivima tokom 2009., 2011. i 2012. godine.U eksperimentu su korišćene sorte s...

Deficiencies of some mineral elements are causing serious health problems, which could be prevented by increase of mineral nutrients in food with supplementation, food fortification or plant breeding. From this point, experiment with 78 maize inbred lines was set up to determine maize lines with improved contents of Fe, Zn and Mn, as well as their relations with phytic acid, inorganic phosphorus and ?-carotene, as factors which affect their absorption. Obtained results suggest that investigated maize lines show high variability in concentration of Fe, Mn and Zn, as well as phytic acid (which sustain availability of mineral elements) and ?-carotene (which enables better absorption of mineral element and minimize negative effect of phytic acid). From this point of view, group of genotypes with phytic P ? 3 g kg-1 was interesting. Among them, L2 and L23 are maize lines with relatively high inorganic P, Fe and Zn contents, and together with relatively low ratio between phytic and inorganic P, they could be used as a good source of P, Fe and Zn. On the other hand, L1 and L4 are also maize lines with high inorganic P, ?-carotene and Mn, and favourable ratio between phytic acid and Fe and Zn, what could give them advance as source of Mn in breeding programs. The same maize lines could also be candidates with improved ability for Fe and Zn absorption, what is based on high ?-carotene content. Maize line L14, with relatively high concentration of all three. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31068: Improving the quality of maize and soybean by conventional and molecular breeding]

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Background: Chemical composition of soybean grain may be modified by application of foliar fertilizers. The aim of this study was to test the effect of different organo-mineral foliar fertilizers: Zlatno inje, Bioplant Flora, Algaren BZn, Zircon, as well as plant growth regulator Epin Extra, on potential availability of mineral elements (Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn) from grain of three commercial soybean varieties: ZP-015, Nena and Laura (variety lacking in Kunitz trypsin inhibitor). In addition, phytate (Phy) and β-carotene contents were determined.