Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution and translocation of selenium from soil to highland barley in the Tibetan Plateau Kashin-Beck disease area

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Kashin–Beck disease (KBD), which is still active and severe in the Tibetan Plateau, is considered to be a kind of selenium (Se)-deficient disease. Highland barley as the most popular staple food in the Tibetan Plateau is one of the dominant Se sources for local people. To improve Se levels in crops in the Tibetan Plateau KBD area, the distribution and translocation of Se from soil to highland barley in both non-KBD and KBD endemic areas were investigated. The results showed that Se levels in highland barley were too low to meet the minimum requirements of human for daily intake of Se. The total Se concentrations of highland barley fractions in KBD areas were lower than that in non-KBD areas (grain P = 0.238; straw P = 0.087; root P = 0.008). However, no significant difference was observed in corresponding cultivated soil Se between the two areas (P = 0.993). The calculation of Se transfer factors indicated that the restricting step for Se translocation was from soil to root. Water-soluble, exchangeable and fulvic acid-bound Se fractions in the soil are key species dominating in this transfer process, according to their significant correlations with root Se. Se transfer from soil to root significantly increases as the pH value of soil increases (P = 0.007), and soil organic matter content decreases (P = 0.019). The information obtained may have considerable significance for proposing effective agricultural measures to increase grain Se in KBD endemic areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown, K. M., & Arthur, J. R. (2001). Selenium, selenoproteins and human health: A review. Public Health Nutrition, 4(2B), 593–599.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. (2003). The dynamics of bioavailability of Se in soil-soybean system. Nanjing: Nanjing Agricultural University. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S. Y., Jiang, R. F., & Li, H. F. (2011). Uptake and translocation of selenate or selenite by wheat and rice seedlings. Environmental Science, 32(32), 284–289. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eich-Greatorex, S., Sogn, T. A., Øgaard, A. F., et al. (2007). Plant availability of inorganic and organic selenium fertilizer as influenced by soil organic matter content and pH. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 79(3), 221–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, L., Man, N., Liang, D. L., et al. (2013). Differences of selenium uptake pattern of pakchoi and mechanism when amended with selenate and selenite. Environmental Science, 34(8), 3272–3279. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao, W. J., Wang, Y. C., Huo, X. L., & Yang, J. (2008). The distribution of soil nutrients and correlation analysis in different altitudes and slope positions in mountain watershed. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 24(3), 248–252. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. J., Li, W., Hu, X., et al. (2008a). Distribution of Kashin–Beck disease and its relationship to selenium content in soil-plant-animal (human being) ecosystem in Tibet. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 27(12), 2167–2170. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. F., McGrath, S. P., & Zhao, F. J. (2008b). Selenium uptake, translocation and speciation in wheat supplied with selenate or selenite. New Phytologist, 178, 92–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. J., Yang, L. S., Li, Y. H., et al. (2006). Relationship between the content of selenium in grains and the Kashin–Beck disease in Tibet, China. Chinese Journal of Endemiology, 25(6), 673–674. (in Chinese).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Z. Q., & Duthie, A. B. (2007). Bioavailability of trace elements in plants in relation to chemical speciation: A case study with pickleweed (Salicornia bigelovii). In Y. Zhu, N. Lepp, & R. Naidu (Eds.), Biogeochemistry of trace elements: environmental protection, remediation and human health (pp. 275–276). Beijing: Tsinghua University Press.

  • Lyons, G. H., Genc, Y., Stangoulis, J. C., et al. (2005). Selenium distribution in wheat grain and the effect of post harvest processing on wheat selenium content. Biological Trace Element Research, 103, 155–168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen, R. L., Page, A. L., & Bingham, F. L. (1989). Factors affecting selenium accumulation by agricultural crops. In L. W. Jacobs (Ed.), Selenium in agriculture and the environment. SSSA Special Publication Number 23. Madison WI, USA, pp. 65–94.

  • Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China. (2009). Summary of Chinese health statistics in 2009. Accessed Nov 6, 2009.

  • National Kashin-Beck Disease Surveillance Group. (2007). The monitoring report of Kashin–Beck disease prevalence rate of whole country in 2006. Chinese Journal of Endemiology, 26, 646–648. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Alarcon, M., & Cabrera-Vique, C. (2008). Selenium in food and the human body: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 400, 115–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nowak, J., Kaklewski, K., & Ligocli, M. (2004). Influence of selenium on oxidoreductive enzymes activity in soil and in plants. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 36, 1553–1558.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiang, X. L., Chi, D. Z., & Feng, J. L. (2008). The production and development of highland barley in Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan Science and Technology, 3, 11–17. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayman, M. P. (2008). Food-chain selenium and human health: Emphasis on intake. British Journal of Nutrition, 100, 254–268.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, X. (2010). The causal factor research of Kashin–Beck disease in Songpan district. Sichuan Province: Chengdu University of Technology. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryser, A. L., Strawn, D. G., Marcus, M. A., et al. (2006). Microscopically focused synchrotron X-ray investigation of selenium speciation in soils developing on reclaimed mine lands. Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 462–467.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha, B., Lipe, S., Johnson, K. A., et al. (2006). Soil hydraulic manipulation and organic amendment for the enhancement of selenium volatilization in a soil-pickleweed system. Plant and Soil, 288, 189–196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spadoni, M., Voltaggio, M., Carcea, M., Coni, E., et al. (2007). Bioaccessible selenium in Italian agricultural soils: Comparison of the biogeochemical approach with a regression model based on geochemical and pedoclimatic variables. Science of the Total Environment, 376, 160–177.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stroud, J. L., Broadley, M. R., Foot, I., Fairweather-Tait, S. J., et al. (2010). Soil factors affecting selenium concentration in wheat grain and the fate and speciation of Se fertilizers. Plant and Soil, 332, 19–30.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, G. X., Liu, X., Williams, P. N., et al. (2010). Distribution and translocation of selenium from soil to grain and its speciation in paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.). Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 6706–6711.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, L. Y., Li, Q., Meng, F. G., et al. (2012). T-2 toxin contamination in grains and selenium concentration in drinking water and grains in Kaschin–Beck disease endemic areas of Qinghai Province. Biological Trace Element Research, 150(1–3), 371–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, J. A. (1990). Chemico-geography of some life elements and endemic diseases with an emphasis on China. In J. A. Tan, P. J. Peterson, R. B. Li, & W. Y. Wang (Eds.), Environmental life elements and health (pp. 145–157). Beijing: Science Press.

  • Tan, J. A., Zhu, W. Y., Wang, W. Y., et al. (2002). Selenium in soil and endemic diseases in China. Science of the Total Environment, 284, 227–235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Temmerman, L. D., Waegeneers, N., Thiry, C., et al. (2014). Selenium content of Belgian cultivated soils and its uptake by field crops and vegetables. Science of the Total Environment, 468–469, 77–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchida, S., Tagami, K., & Hirai, I. (2007). Soil-to-plant transfer factors of stable elements and naturally occurring radionuclides (1) upland field crops collected in Japan. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 44, 628–640.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Li, H. R., Li, Y. H., et al. (2013). Speciation, distribution and bioavailability of soil selenium in the Tibetan Plateau Kashin–Beck disease area—A case study in Songpan County, Sichuan Province, China. Biological Trace Element Research, 156, 367–375.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, G. Q., & Xia, Y. M. (1995). Studies on human dietary requirements and safe range of dietary intakes of selenium in China and their application in the prevention of related endemic diseases. Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, BES, 8, 187–201.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, B. J., Yang, L. S., Wang, W. Y., et al. (2009). Selenium in environment and its relationship with Kashin–Beck disease in Zamtang county, Sichuan province. Progress in Geography, 28(6), 886–891. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, B. J., Yang, L. S., Wang, W. Y., et al. (2011). Environmental selenium in the Kaschin–Beck disease area, Tibetan Plateau, China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 33, 95–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, D., Zhou, Z. H., Zhang, B., et al. (2012). The effects of agricultural management on selected soil properties of the arable soils in Tibet, China. Catena, 93, 1–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, C. Y., Ren, J. H., Xue, C. Z., & Lin, E. (2005). Study on the relationship between soil selenium and plant selenium uptake. Plant and Soil, 227, 197–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Z. J., Li, Q., Yang, P. Z., et al. (2013). Selenium: A protective factor for Kashin–Beck disease in Qing-Tibet Plateau. Biological Trace Element Research, 153, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, J. M., Zheng, B. S., Wang, Z. L., et al. (1999). Distribution of selenium in corn and its relationship with soil selenium in Yutangba mini-landscape. Environmental Science, 4, 38–41. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41171081), the National 12th Five-Year Plan scientific and technological issues (No. 2013BAC04B03). We also thank the local government of Songpan County, Sichuan Province, for their help during the field investigations.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Wang, Hairong Li, Linsheng Yang, Yonghua Li, Binggan Wei, Jiangping Yu & Fujian Feng

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Wang

Authors
  1. Jing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hairong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linsheng Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yonghua Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Binggan Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiangping Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fujian Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hairong Li or Linsheng Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, J., Li, H., Yang, L. et al. Distribution and translocation of selenium from soil to highland barley in the Tibetan Plateau Kashin-Beck disease area. Environ Geochem Health 39, 221–229 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9823-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9823-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation