Summary
This field trial tracked a single realistic selenium biofortification application (10 g ha⁻¹) across three contrasting United Kingdom soils using stable isotope labelling to discriminate applied from native selenium. Although topsoil retained a modest proportion of applied selenium at harvest (15–31%), the retained element became chemically fixed with negligible bioavailability for subsequent crops. The findings suggest that whilst prolonged biofortification could accumulate soil selenium over centuries, incorporation of cereal straw may offer a more practical pathway for delivering residual selenium to following crops.
Regional applicability
The trial was conducted on UK soils at a UK university farm under typical temperate conditions, making the findings directly applicable to UK arable conditions and selenium biofortification practice. The research provides evidence that single-season selenium applications have limited residual value for UK cereal production systems without straw management interventions, and informs realistic expectations for soil persistence and agronomic utility of Se biofortification programmes.
Key measures
Proportion of applied ⁷⁷Se retained in topsoil (15–31%) and subsoil (2–4%) at harvest; selenium losses (37–43%); fixed ⁷⁷Se in soil measured the following spring and at second harvest; uptake by following crop; time to double soil selenium content (approximately 500 years); ICP-MS quantification of ⁷⁷Se in soil and crop fractions; bioavailability of retained selenium
Outcomes reported
The study quantified retention and fate of isotopically labelled selenium (77Se) applied at realistic biofortification rates (10 g ha−1) to winter wheat across three contrasting soils over two growing seasons. It measured selenium distribution in soil and crop fractions, assessed the bioavailability and mobility of retained soil selenium, and evaluated the potential for straw reincorporation to provide residual selenium availability.
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