Determining the fate of selenium in wheat biofortification: an isotopically labelled field trial study

Mathers, Andrew W., Young, Scott D., McGrath, Simon, Zhao, Fang-Jie, Crout, Neil M.J. and Bailey, Elizabeth H. (2017) Determining the fate of selenium in wheat biofortification: an isotopically labelled field trial study. Plant and Soil, 420 (1-2). pp. 61-77. ISSN 1573-5036

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Aims

The principal aim of this research was to quantify retention of a single, realistic Se biofortification application (10 g ha-1) in contrasting soils over two growing seasons utilizing an enriched stable Se isotope (77Se) to discriminate between applied Se and native soil Se.

Methods

Isotopically enriched 77Se (Na2SeO4) was applied (10 g ha-1) to four replicate plots (2 m x 2 m) of winter wheat, on three contrasting soils on the University of Nottingham farm (UK), at early stem extension in May 2012. Labelled 77Se was assayed in soil and crop fractions by ICP-MS.

Results

Topsoil retained a proportion of applied Se at harvest (c. 15 – 31 %) with only minor retention in subsoil (2-4 %), although losses were 37 – 43 %. Further analysis of topsoil 77Se, the following spring, and at second harvest, suggested that labelled Se retained in soil was25 fixed and uptake by a following crop was negligible.

Conclusions

Prolonged biofortification leads to accumulation of Se in soil but the retained Se has very low bioavailability and mobility. The time required to double the soil Se content would be about 500 years. However, reincorporation of cereal straw could provide a residual source of Se for a following crop, depending on timing and management.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/877973
Keywords: selenium; biofortification; wheat; enriched stable isotope; Se fixation in soil; straw
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Biosciences > Division of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3374-y
Depositing User: Eprints, Support
Date Deposited: 15 Aug 2017 10:41
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 19:00
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/44899

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View