Effect of combined Se and Co application on yield and protein,Se and Co contents in grain of corn

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of combined Se and Co application on the yield, and the grain protein, Se and Co contents of corn. The results show that the application of Se alone does not significantly affect corn yield. Yield is also not affected when Co alone is applied at the rate of 5 mg·kg^-1. However, yield of corn obviously drops at 10 mg·kg^-1 or 20 mg·kg^-1 Co. Compared with the control, yield increases by 35.75% under combined application of 0.5 mg·kg^-1 Se and 5 mg·kg^-1 Co. Grain protein content is not influenced by individual or combined applications of Se and Co. Grain Se content is also not notably affected by Co. However, grain Se content increases under Se or combined application of Se and Co. Grain Co content increases under indi-vidual application of Se or Co. However, grain Co content decreases under combined application of 10 mg·kg^-1 or 20 mg·kg^-1 Co with Se. Generally, corn Se and Co nutrient improves under combined Se and Co application. Moreover, grain Se and Co is below the maximum safe level for livestock and poultry.