Summary
This field trial used stable isotope tracing (77Se) to track the fate of a single realistic selenium biofortification application in winter wheat grown on three contrasting soils over two seasons. Whilst topsoil retained 15–31% of applied Se at harvest, the retained Se became fixed with negligible bioavailability to subsequent crops, suggesting that prolonged biofortification accumulates soil Se slowly (doubling time ~500 years) but with limited agronomic benefit unless straw is reincorporated.
UK applicability
The study was conducted on UK farmland under typical temperate conditions and directly informs the feasibility and soil dynamics of selenium biofortification strategies for British arable systems. The findings suggest that single applications have limited long-term value for crop nutrition, but straw reincorporation and repeated applications warrant further investigation in UK contexts.
Key measures
Proportion of applied 77Se retained in topsoil (15–31%) and subsoil (2–4%) at harvest; Se losses (37–43%); 77Se assays by ICP-MS in soil and crop fractions; bioavailability of fixed Se in soil; time to double soil Se content
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 Se distribution in soil and crop fractions and assessed the bioavailability and mobility of retained soil Se.
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