The aim of the investigation carried out in 2006-2007 was to assess differences between 5 grass species and 5 species of plants belonging to meadow herbs in their ability to accumulate selenium. According to the results, among the grass species, the samples of Arrhenatherum elatuis L. had the highest average Se content (46 µg Se⋅kg-1 d.m.), and the lowest average Se amount was found in Holcus lanatus L. (24 µg Se⋅kg-1 d.m.). The content of Se in meadow weeds (70 µg Se⋅kg-1 d.m.) was approximately twice as high as in grasses (32 µg Se⋅kg-1 dm.). Among this group of plants, the highest Se accumulation occurred in Equisetum arvense L. (103 µg Se⋅kg-1 dm.) and the lowest-in Taraxacum officinale (59 µg Se⋅kg-1 dm.). Both in grasses and in meadow weeds, the Se content significantly depended on the amount of this element in soils. In the following species: Dactylis glomerata L., Arrhenatherum elatius L., Poa pratensis L. and Taraxacum officinale, the amount of accumulated Se was also conditioned by the soil's abundance in organic and total C.

The material for this study consisted of 60 soil samples collected from the arable layer of cultivated fields located in the vicinity of Wroc³aw. The samples varied in their properties and reflected a whole range of soil types to be found in the region of Lower Silesia. The examinations proved that selenium content in arable soils near Wroclaw ranged from 81 to 449 µg⋅kg -1 and the average value of Se content in these soils was 202 µg⋅kg -1 .The lowest Se content appeared in sandy soils (174 µg⋅kg -1 ), while the highest value was found in loamy soils. The mean value of Se content calculated for this group of soils was 228 µg⋅kg -1 . Selenium content in soils varied to a high degree (V=42%). The value lower than 100 µg⋅kg -1 , assumed as a critical one for the quality of plant yield, was recorded for 4 samples, while in 33 soil samples the Se content fell in the range of 101--200 µg⋅kg -1 and in 14 samples it ranged from 201 to 300 µg⋅kg -1 . Only 9 soils out of these subjected to investigation characterized selenium value higher than 300 µg⋅kg -1 , i.e. the value regarded as medium soil fertility. Se content in soils was highly correlated with their content of silt and clay, as well as colloidal parts and also with the amount of C and total content of such chemical elements as P, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni.

The dynamics of selenium (Se) uptake by two maize varieties (Zea mays L.) were assessed under two selenium doses (0.1 and 0.2 mg kg−1 of soil) applied to the soil. The addition of Se increased the biomass yield of the Se-susceptible variety (Bielik), while significantly decreasing the yield of the Se-resistant variety (Lober), and this suppression was stronger at the higher Se dose. The content and uptake of selenium by maize also increased with the Se dose, and the Bielik variety proved to be more effective. In terms of crop quality for animal nutrition, the optimal Se content (330–365 µg kg−1) was reached after 81 days of vegetation under the lower Se dose only, while the higher treatment led to excessive Se accumulation in maize biomass.

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