SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SELENIUM IN SOILS AND PLANTS OF THE GORNI ALTAI

Abstract

The results of studying the selenium content in parent rocks, major soil types, and dominant plants of the Gorny Altai are presented. Regularities in the distribution of selenium across the soil profiles of the region have been identified. The average selenium content in the soils of Gorny Altai was 0.21 mg/kg (529 soil samples were analyzed), which is similar to the level in the soils of the former USSR [1], but significantly less than in the soils of the world [2]. The maximum value of 0.92 mg/kg exceeds the minimum value of 0.016 mg/kg by more than 57 times. The nature of the spatial and internal distribution of gross selenium is influenced by the physicochemical properties of the underlying rocks and soils, and by natural conditions. The concentration of the water-soluble form of selenium is in the range of 22.9% of the gross content and depends on the physicochemical properties of the soils and climatic conditions. The selenium content in plants varies within the mathematical order and more, which is due to their systematic affiliation and the content of available selenium compounds in soils. Most of the element is accumulated by plants of the families Labiatae, Rosáles, Lega (Fabáceae, or Leguminósae) and Asteraceae (Compósitae). The highest selenium content among those studied was found in the woolly panzeria (Panzeria lanata L.) – 0.43 mg/kg.