Accumulation of selenium by different plant species grown under increasing sodium and calcium chloride salinity

• Published in: Plant and soil 1996-06, Vol.183 (1), p.49-59
• Main Authors: Banuelos, G.S. (Water Management Research Lab. USDA-ARS, Fresno, CA (USA).), Zayed, A, Terry, N, Wu, L, Akohoue, S, Zambrzuski, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE SUSTANCIAS NUTRITIVAS; ABSORPTION DE SUBSTANCES NUTRITIVES; Agricultural site preparation; Agricultural soils; Agrology; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; BRASSICA NAPUS; CALCIUM CHLORIDE; CALIFORNIA; CALIFORNIE; Canola; CHLORURE DE CALCIUM; CHLORURE DE SODIUM; CLORURO CALCICO; CLORURO SODICO; Deficiencies. Phytotoxicity of elements. Salinity; FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; HIBISCUS CANNABINUS; LOTUS TENUIS; NUTRIENT UPTAKE; Plants; SALINIDAD; SALINITE; SALINITY; SALT TOLERANCE; SELENIO; SELENIUM; SODIUM CHLORIDE; Soil pollution; Soil salinity; Soil salts; Soil water; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; TOLERANCE AU SEL; TOLERANCIA A LA SAL
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02185564

High levels of naturally occurring selenium (Se) are often found in conjunction with different forms of salinity in central California. Plants considered for use in phytoremediation of high Se levels must therefore be salt tolerant. Selenium accumulation was evaluated for the following species under increasing salt (NaCl and CaCl) conditions: Brassica napus L. (canola), Hibiscus cannibinus L. (kenaf), Festuca arundinacea L. (tall fescue), and Lotus tenuis L. (birdsfoot trefoil). The experimental design was a complete randomized block with four salt treatments of < 1, 5, 10, and 20 dS m⁻¹, four plant species, three blocks, and six replicates per treatment. Ninety days after growing in the respective salt treated soil with a Se concentration of 2 mg Se kg⁻¹ soil, added as Na₂SeO₄, all plant species were completely harvested. Among the species tested, shoot and root dry matter yield of kenaf was most significantly (p < 0.001) affected by the highest salt treatment and tall fescue and canola were the least affected species. Generally there was a decrease in tissue accumulation of Se with increasing salt levels, except that low levels of salinity stimulated Se accumulation in canola. Canola leaf and root tissue accumulated the highest concentrations of Se (315 and 80 mg Se kg⁻¹ DM) and tall fescue the least (35 and 7 mg Se kg⁻¹ DM). Total soil Se concentrations at harvest were significantly (p < 0.05) lower for all species at all salt treatments. Removal of Se from soil was greatest by canola followed by birdsfoot trefoil, kenaf and tall fescue. Among the four species, canola was the best candidate for removing Se under the tested salinity conditions. Kenaf may be effective because of its large biomass production, while tall fescue and birdsfoot trefoil may be effective because they can be repeatedly clipped as perennial crops.