The development of selenium-rich millet via soil fertilization and the interactions among microbial community, plants and rhizosphere soil

Abstract

Abstract Selenium is an important microelement for both plants and human health. The deficiency of selenium would result in various diseases and has attracted much attention. In modern agriculture, different strategies have been adopted for selenium biofortification. In this study, selenium soil fertilization was applied at different levels to develop selenium-rich millet. External supplementation of selenium showed positive effects on plant growth and nutrient transport. The activities of key enzymes of plant and soil were observed to enhance after selenium fertilization, such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), sucrose, and urease. The major objective of obtaining selenium-rich millet grain successfully achieved as the final selenium content in grain increased by 5–10 folds. Middle level of selenium showed the best performance among all the treatments. The analysis of microbial community in rhizosphere soil suggested the good adaptation of both bacteria and fungi toward environmental conditions modified by fertilization.