Production of unique bio-based products from vegetation management of selenium

摘要

Long-term phytomanagement of selenium (Se) is dependent upon acceptance and widespread use by end- users, who are also concerned with economic returns from using a plant-based technology. Multi-year field studies were conducted with different plants in Se- laden regions of the Westside of central California. Plants were irrigated with Se/sulfate-laden water (ranging from 130-500ug Se/L). After harvest of each respective crop, new bio-based products were produced from canola, mustard, broccoli, and cactus. These included Se-enriched leaves, seed meal, florets, and fruit for use as organic source of Se for animal feed, human food, canola and mustard oils for use as blends in biofuel, mustard seed meal as a biological herbicide, and both canola and mustard seed meals as organic sources of fertilizer. The successful development of these new products from plants used for managing soluble Se will be discussed.