Excessive and inappropriate application of industrial N fertilizer can result in severe environmental and ecological problems, but whether the input of N fertilizer could affect the composition of mineral elements in corn has not been reported. Effects of input of N fertilizer on the composition of mineral elements (Se, Mo, I, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, Cr, K, Na, and Mg), in corn grain were investigated by ICP-MS (inductive coupling plasma-mass spectrometry). Se, I, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, K and Ca were significantly lower in the treatments with N fertilizer compared to a control without N fertilizer. There was a significant negative conrrelation (R) between four mineral elements and N fertilizer input: I, -0.71; Zn, -0.65; Ca, -0.75; K, -0.89. Therefore appropriate... |