Detailed Explanation of Key Production Techniques for Selenium-Enriched Garlic

Garlic is a popular condiment that people love to eat, and it has many physiological effects beneficial to the human body. Regular consumption of garlic can enhance human immunity and prevent various diseases. These physiological effects of garlic are related to its relatively high selenium content. Therefore, how to further increase the selenium content of garlic is of great significance for improving the dietary therapeutic value of garlic, and also has notable significance for increasing the added value of garlic, expanding garlic exports, and raising farmers' incomes. This article introduces the production methods of selenium-enriched garlic to the broad community of farmers for their reference.

Soil available selenium content. The level of soil available selenium content reflects the soil's capacity to supply selenium, and it has a significant correlation with total soil selenium content, soil-forming parent material, soil texture, and soil pH. Generally speaking, as pH increases and soil texture changes from coarse to fine, soil available selenium content increases. The average soil available selenium content in the main garlic-producing areas of our province is 9.5 micrograms/kg, and the selenium supply of more than half of the soils is relatively low. Therefore, taking appropriate measures to supplement the soil's selenium supply level is very necessary for producing selenium-enriched garlic.

Commonly used selenium-containing fertilizers. The selenium fertilizers commonly used in production are sodium selenate and sodium selenite, which can be purchased at chemical supply stores or chemical reagent stores.

Methods of using selenium. The selenium application methods commonly used in producing selenium-enriched garlic mainly include foliar spraying, soil selenium application, and seed soaking. They are introduced separately below.

Spraying. One month before harvest, prepare sodium selenate into a concentration of 100 mg/kg, apply a pure selenium amount of 5 grams per mu, and evenly spray it on the garlic leaves. Generally, garlic yield can be increased by about 10%, and the total selenium content of garlic increases from 0.072 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg, showing obvious selenium enrichment.

Soil selenium application. Before sowing garlic, apply 13 grams of sodium selenate per mu, combined with other base fertilizers, evenly in the sowing furrows. Generally, garlic yield can be increased by about 15%, and the total selenium content of garlic can be increased to 12 mg/kg, with obvious yield-increasing and selenium-enriching effects.

Seed soaking. Use a 100 mg/kg sodium selenate solution and soak the seeds for 12 hours before sowing. Garlic yield generally increases by 10%, and the total selenium content of garlic increases to 3 mg/kg.

Precautions. The amount of selenium used must be controlled accurately; too much will produce toxic effects, while too little will fail to achieve the selenium-enriching effect; when spraying and applying to soil, it must be even; for spraying, choose before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on a sunny day, and if it rains after spraying, it should be re-sprayed.