ABSTRACT

Agronomic biofortification can increase selenium (Se) concentration in crops and hence dietary intake of Se. This chapter aims to establishing whether Se uptake and recovery is influenced by soil type. The experimental treatments consisted of eight levels of Se application in maize crop. Selenium uptake increased with Se application at all sites. Selenium recovery varied across soil types because applied Se is likely to be rapidly leached as soluble selenate, adsorbed as selenite, or immobilized into organic forms. Sager and Hoesch reported that between 0.7 and 4.7% of applied Se was transferred to barley grain. Soil types influenced Se uptake and recovery, and therefore soil properties have a significant effect on Se uptake and Se recovery. There is a need to investigate further and identify the critical soil properties that have the greatest effect on Se uptake. Vertisols and Lixisols seemed to have greater Se uptake and recovery compared to Luvisols.