Rhizosphere enrichment and crop utilization of selenium and metals in typical permian soils of Enshi.

Enshi, China, is renowned as "Selenium(Se) Capital" where widely distributed soils derived from Permian parent rocks are notably rich in Se, as well as metals, particularly cadmium(Cd). However, the soil enrichment and crop uptake of Se and metals in these high-Se and high-Cd areas are not well understood. To propose the optimal crop planting plan to ensure the safety of agricultural products, we investigated the soils and corresponding typical crops (rice, tea, and maize).

Geochemical relationship and profile distribution of Selenium and Cadmium in typical Selenium-enriched areas in Enshi.

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient element for humans, and Se-enriched products are gaining popularity due to their health benefits. However, Enshi, a region in China naturally rich in Se, a high background value of cadmium (Cd) is discovered, which severely impacts local Se-enriched agriculture. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the geochemical relationship between Se and Cd.