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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2007 Publication Date: 7/20/2007 Citation: Banuelos, G.S. 2007. Production of Unique Bio-Based Products from Vegetation Management of Se. Book Chapter. In: Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements: Environmental Protection, Remediation and Human Health, (Eds.) Y. Ahu, N. Lepp, and R. Naidu, Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, China, pp: 256-258. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Long-term phytomanagement of selenium 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 in the westside of the San Joaquin Valley. Water used for irrigation of canola, mustard, broccoli, and cactus had a range of Se from 0.100 to 0.150 mg/L, and a sodium sulfate-dominated salinity (EC) of 5-8 dS/m. Canola and mustard plants were harvested for seed, broccoli for florets, and cactus for prickly pear fruit. Seeds were processed for their oil, which was processed and eventually blended with diesel to produce B20 biofuel. Canola and mustard seed by-products after oil extraction were used for Se-enriched animal meal and as a biological herbidide, respectively. Broccoli florets contained between 1.5-3.4 mg Se/kg, and can be safely consumed as Se-enriched broccoli, while cactus fruit contained Se concentrations between 10 and 13 mg/kg and are readily available for both animal and human consumption. These studies show that the phytomanagement of Se with different plant species can produce cash-value bio-based products that may contribute to the long-term sustainability of this phyto-technology. |
