ABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) is an important dietary micronutrient for human and animal health and it is a vital component of various selenoproteins that play an essential role in regulating multiple body functions, including metabolism, thyroid hormone synthesis, and normal functioning of the thyroid gland. This chapter assesses the viability of Se biofortification in northeast Pakistan, a region considered to be selenium-deficient. It aims to quantify the effect of residual soil Se on subsequent crops and also assesses the fate of residual soil Se. Application of 20 g/ha selenate was sufficient to raise grain Se concentration to the required level in the study area. However, before implementing it on a large scale we recommend to conducting further research to investigate the fate of residual soil Se, because large proportion of added Se was lost from soil in this experiment, which may have consequences for water quality.
