The effect of selenium-containing compounds and heavy metals on the chemical composition and yield of vegetable beans (Vicia faba L.) in the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia

Relevance. Beans are a source of vitamins and other biologically active substances. One of the promising areas is the enrichment of beans with trace elements, in particular, Se. From the standpoint of environmental safety, it is also of interest to study the effect of various forms of selenium (sodium selenite and nanoselene) separately and against the background of heavy metal pollution (lead and chromium) on the growth, development, yield and chemical composition of beans of domestic and foreign varieties.

Methods. The influence of selenium, chromium, and lead compounds on the growth, development, yield, and chemical composition of beans of various varieties has been evaluated. Field experiments were conducted in 2022-2024 in the southern foreststeppe of Western Siberia, the objects of research were vegetable beans of the varieties Russian black, Belarusian, Hangdown Grunkernig, Dreifach Waibe.

Results. Depending on the form of selenium used, the influence of heavy metals, and variety specificity, the difference in selenium content in beans can be very significant (41...1325mcg/kg). The use of sodium selenite significantly increases the selenium content in plants, while the level of the trace element increases by 6.4...12.2 times, and when using nanoselene by 1.4...3.8 times. Anthropogenic intake of heavy metals reduces the selenium content in beans in all studied varieties, with the largest decrease by -96.4% observed when exposed to lead. Various ways of using selenium and the varietal specifics of its accumulation affect the growth and development, and, as a result, the yield of vegetable beans. The interaction of heavy metals and selenium affects the production process.

Conclusion. The effectiveness of using selenium for bean enrichment depends on the method and form of its intake, interaction with other elements, in particular, heavy metals. Varieties of beans of domestic and foreign breeding have different responsiveness to the use of trace elements.

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