Leaching of Added Selenium in Soils Low in Native Selenium

A soil column experiment was performed to evaluate the influence of organic matter and lime on the leaching and distribution of added selenite. 75Se-labeled Na2SeO3 was added to water-saturated soil columns with a diameter of 4.25 cm and a length of 16-20 cm. Leaching started immediately, one l water being added per column during the course of 1 wk. Most of the selenite did not move through the soil, and only a few per cent were found in the leaching water. Leaching was greatest in sandy soil. It was increased by the addition of lime, but decreased by addition of organic matter. Most of the leaching took place within the 1st few days. In other experiments, selenite fixation in soils took several days to reach equilibrium. Leaching of the selenite added to mineral soils under Danish field conditions was insignificant in the short time-cycle of Se in the environment.