Soil Se Concentrations Research Articles

Homicide investigative techniques : by Daniel J. Hughes Charles C. Thomas (301–327 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62703), 1974, 362 pp., hardcover—$16.75

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of sulfur (S) application on selenium (Se) uptake and seed Se speciation in high-protein soybean (Glycine max L.) grown in different soil types.Pot experiments were conducted with soybean plants grown in yellow-brown soil (pH 5.68) and in calcareous alluvial soil (pH 7.87). Sodium selenate (Na2SeO4, 2 mg kg−1) was applied to soil with or without S fertilizer (S, 100 mg kg−1).Soybean grain yield and total biomass in calcareous alluvial soil were both approximately 1.3-fold the levels in yellow-brown soil. Following Se application, seed Se concentration in calcareous alluvial soil was 3.2-fold the concentration in yellow-brown soil, although additional S application reduced the corresponding seed Se concentrations by 55.6% and 38.6%, respectively. Generally, Se application facilitated Se translocation and enrichment in soybean seeds. Organic Se accounted for 92% of seed total Se and Se-methionine (>90%) was always the major Se species. Available Se (soluble and exchangeable fractions) accounted for 50.7% (yellow-brown soil) and 70.1% (calcareous alluvial soil) of soil total Se under Se treatment, while additional S application decreased the corresponding proportion of soluble Se by 12.6% and 14.4%.The bioavailability of selenate in calcareous alluvial soil was higher than the bioavailability in yellow-brown soil and was more negatively affected by S application. Although S application inhibited Se uptake in soybean plants in both soil types, it did not influence seed Se speciation and Se-methionine was the major Se species.

SELENIUM CONTENT OF SOILS AND CROPS AND THE EFFECTS OF LIME AND SULFUR ON PLANT SELENIUM

Soils representing the more important series on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) and forage and cereal crops grown on them were analyzed for Se content. Total soil Se content varied from 0.09 to 0.60 ppm and showed a positive significant correlation with the Se content of timothy (r = 0.40) and with soil pH (r = 0.29). The Se concentration of forage crop tissues and cereal grains from P.E.I. varied from 0.004 to 0.043 ppm. These concentrations of Se are considered to be deficiency levels for livestock feed. Wheat kernels contained a higher concentration of Se than barley kernels; however, barley tissue, sampled at the boot stage, contained higher quantities of Se than wheat sampled at the same stage. Addition of lime, S, B and Mo to the soil, under field conditions, did not affect the Se concentration of plant tissues.