Selenium was determined from 25 topsoils and 25 plants in the semi-arid Central Spain where large extents of soils are developed on evaporitic materials. Some species of vegetation associated with them are of the genera Astragalus, Salsola, Mercurialis, Phlomis, Thymus and Atriplex. Total selenium in soils was determined and its bioavailability assessed by chemical sequential fractionation. Se content in soils was adequate (in the range 0.17-0.39 mg kg(-1)) or large (in the range 0.50-4.38 mg kg(-1)) and appeared in highly and/or potentially available forms. Several plant species showed high Se levels (in the range 5-14.3 mg kg(-1)), which can be a potential risk of toxicity to animals. Data obtained from the study area can be used as a guide to the range of values in soils and plants of the European Mediterranean area that are relatively unpolluted from industrial sources, allowing comparison with more polluted areas.

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This study states the potential trace elements (TE’s) content of red soils located at the centre region of Spain, characterized by low rainfall and slight acidity over prolonged weathering periods. For this purpose, three soil profiles from a catena were described, sampled and analyzed. The most notable characteristics are the low organic matter content and the predominantly acidic pH. Illite and kaolinite are the predominant clay minerals. The fertility of the soils is sufficient to provide most of the nutrients required, with very suitable potassium levels. The geochemical characters of this soil are: only few elements remain almost invariable across the profiles and over time, however the majority of them were directly linked with the clay content. These soils are characterized by relatively low levels of some trace elements such as Sr (64.35 mg?kg–1), Ba (303.67 mg?kg–1) and Sc (13.14 mg?kg–1); high levels of other trace elements such as V (103.92 mg?kg–1), Cr (79.9 mg?kg–1), Cu (15.18 mg?kg–1), Hf (10.26 mg?kg–1), Ni (38 mg?kg–1) and Zr (337 mg?kg–1); while the levels for rare earth elements (REE’s) such as La (48.36 mg?kg–1), Ce (95.07 mg?kg–1), Th (13.33 mg?kg–1) and Nd (42.65 mg?kg–1) are significantly high. The distribution of mayor and trace elements was directly re- lated to weathering processes, parent material and anthropogenic activities

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En el desarrollo de estrategias relativas al “Terroir”, se requiere una comprensión del grado de edafodiversidad. En un intento de inventariar y zonificar los suelos vitícolas de Castilla La Mancha (CLM), desde 2008 venimos realizando un análisis comprensivo y armonizado de las distintas coberturas edáficas, de los edafotaxa y de su distribución espacial. Fruto de este trabajo se desprende que, a pesar de que CLM ocupa una superficie dominantemente plana, existe gran variedad de sustratos litológicos y posiciones geomorfológicas, lo que conlleva una notable edafodiversidad, incluso a escala detallada. En concreto, se han caracterizado, según Soil Taxonomy (2014), fundamentalmente: Entisoles, Inceptisoles, Alfisoles y Ultisoles; mientras que según FAO-ISRIC-ISSS (2006) existen fundamentalmente: Cambisoles, Calcisoles, Luvisoles, Arenosoles, Gleysoles, Gypsisoles, Fluvisoles, Leptosoles, Regosoles, Acrisoles y Alisoles. Esta tipología de suelos la atribuimos fundamentalmente a procesos tales como alteración mineral parcial, calcificación o acumulación de carbonatos o yesos, argiluviación, rubefacción, etc. También cabe señalar, entre otros, dos procesos singulares y de moderada extensión territorial, como son la salificación y la gleización. Entre los cualificadores más comunes cabe citar los relacionados con la naturaleza de los materiales originarios o con procesos incipientes edafogenéticos, tales como Calcaric, Haplic, Profondic, Skeletic, Leptic, etc.; otros están relacionados con procesos de formación, tales como Chromic, Calcic, Luvic, etc. Sin embargo, desde nuestro punto de vista, se necesitan nuevos calificadores, especialmente en el caso de los Calcisoles.