Selenium (Se) is a crucial micronutrient for human health. Plants are the primary source of Se for humans. Selenium in the soil serves as the primary source of Se for plants.
- A pot experiment in a greenhouse studied how DDT (a pesticide) breaks down in soils when rice and ryegrass are planted, showing that DDE/DDD levels increased slightly over time.
- In rice soil, DDT residues decreased to 70-80 ng/g by day 84, while the breakdown products DDD, DDMS, and DDMU rose significantly, indicating rapid transformation.
- The study found that newly added DDT degrades more effectively in submerged conditions compared to aged DDT, which did not show the same breakdown trends.