Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China

Selenium (Se) is essential for various metabolic and physiological functions in the human body. However, the mechanisms of Se cycling in soils, particularly under different parent materials and land uses, remain understudied. This study investigates the spatial distribution and influencing factors o...

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Main Authors: Chunshan Xiao, Xing Xiong, Jianwei Bu, Zhongquan Hu, Jun Zhang, Chenzhou Yang, Yinhe Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5749
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author Chunshan Xiao
Xing Xiong
Jianwei Bu
Zhongquan Hu
Jun Zhang
Chenzhou Yang
Yinhe Huang
author_facet Chunshan Xiao
Xing Xiong
Jianwei Bu
Zhongquan Hu
Jun Zhang
Chenzhou Yang
Yinhe Huang
author_sort Chunshan Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Selenium (Se) is essential for various metabolic and physiological functions in the human body. However, the mechanisms of Se cycling in soils, particularly under different parent materials and land uses, remain understudied. This study investigates the spatial distribution and influencing factors of total Se in surface soils derived from limestone and sandstone in paddy and dryland systems in a Se-rich karst region of Southwest China. The mean Se content was 0.5 mg/kg, with 100% of samples exceeding national and global background levels, confirming Zheng’an County as a newly recognized Se-rich area. Soil Se concentrations, along with environmental variables such as soil organic matter (SOM), pH, elevation, slope, and trace elements (V, Cr, and Zn), were analyzed. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in Se content between parent materials and land-use types. Stepwise multiple regression identified SOM as the strongest predictor of Se, while Spearman correlation showed significant associations with topographic and chemical factors. These findings highlight the complex interactions between geology, land use, and topography in Se dynamics. Given the global distribution of karst landscapes, this research provides valuable insights into Se behavior in similar environments worldwide, with implications for land management and nutritional security.
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issn 2076-3417
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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spelling doaj-art-d78f4e3e65854b2bbc173bdfc94c0ee12025-08-20T03:47:50ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011510574910.3390/app15105749Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest ChinaChunshan Xiao0Xing Xiong1Jianwei Bu2Zhongquan Hu3Jun Zhang4Chenzhou Yang5Yinhe Huang6School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China106 Geological Party, Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development, Zunyi 563000, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, ChinaSchool of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, ChinaSelenium (Se) is essential for various metabolic and physiological functions in the human body. However, the mechanisms of Se cycling in soils, particularly under different parent materials and land uses, remain understudied. This study investigates the spatial distribution and influencing factors of total Se in surface soils derived from limestone and sandstone in paddy and dryland systems in a Se-rich karst region of Southwest China. The mean Se content was 0.5 mg/kg, with 100% of samples exceeding national and global background levels, confirming Zheng’an County as a newly recognized Se-rich area. Soil Se concentrations, along with environmental variables such as soil organic matter (SOM), pH, elevation, slope, and trace elements (V, Cr, and Zn), were analyzed. One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in Se content between parent materials and land-use types. Stepwise multiple regression identified SOM as the strongest predictor of Se, while Spearman correlation showed significant associations with topographic and chemical factors. These findings highlight the complex interactions between geology, land use, and topography in Se dynamics. Given the global distribution of karst landscapes, this research provides valuable insights into Se behavior in similar environments worldwide, with implications for land management and nutritional security.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5749seleniumparent rockland usemigration and transformationkarst regionsoil organic matter
spellingShingle Chunshan Xiao
Xing Xiong
Jianwei Bu
Zhongquan Hu
Jun Zhang
Chenzhou Yang
Yinhe Huang
Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
Applied Sciences
selenium
parent rock
land use
migration and transformation
karst region
soil organic matter
title Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
title_full Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
title_fullStr Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
title_short Impact of Parent Rock and Land Use on the Distribution and Enrichment of Soil Selenium in Typical Subtropical Karst Regions of Southwest China
title_sort impact of parent rock and land use on the distribution and enrichment of soil selenium in typical subtropical karst regions of southwest china
topic selenium
parent rock
land use
migration and transformation
karst region
soil organic matter
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/10/5749
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