SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION AFFECTS THE GROWTH, YIELD AND SELENIUM ACCUMULATION IN LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA L.)

A farm trial was carried out in the Department of Horticulture at Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey to explore the effect of Selenium (Se) fertilization on growth, yield and Se accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Selenium, as sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) solution, at four different concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg kg(-1)) was applied three times to plant root zone during the growth period. The results suggested that Se application significantly increased yield and growth parameters of iceberg, romaine and leaf lettuce compared to the control. The increasing ratio of yield, average head weight, head diameter, head length, stem diameter, head and root dry weight was 71-116%, 65-105%, 26-30%, 17-31%, 18-22%, 1-6% and 14-26% for 50-100 mg kg(-1) selenium application on iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce and leaf lettuce.