Selenium in soil

Selenium (Se) is an essential microelement, necessary for normal functioning of human and animal organisms. Its deficiency in food and feed causes a number of diseases. In high concentrations, selenium is toxic for humans animals and plants. Soil provision with selenium affects its level in food and feed via nutrition chain. However, selenium reactivity and bioavailability depends not only on its total content in soil but also on its chemical forms. Distribution of the different forms of selenium depends on soil properties such as reaction, aeration, contents of clay and organic matter and microbiological activity