Potential use of quadrivalent selenium as a systemic deer-browsing repellent: A cautionary note

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Northern Journal of Applied Forestry; (United States)

OSTI ID:7026892

Jobidon, R; Prevost, M ^[1]

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1. Resources Naturelles du Quebec, Sainte-Foy (Canada). Direction de la recherche

This study evaluates the potential usefulness and toxicity of applying quadrivalent selenium (selenite ion) to the soil to discourage white-tailed deer from browsing conifer seedlings. After adsorption by the root system and internal transport, organoselenium compounds are volatilized by the foliage, and the characteristic garlic odor is hypothesized to protect coniferous tree seedlings from browsing damage. Results indicate that either 5, 17, or 24 months after treatment, selenized white spruce seedlings did not show significantly different deer-browsing damage from control seedlings when deer numbers were high. Five and seventeen months after treatment, selenium had not leached but had accumulated in the top soil. Large-scale application of selenium may represent a potential environmental risk, hence the authors do not recommend use of selenite ion to prevent damage from deer-browsing of white spruce seedlings.

• OSTI ID: 7026892
• Journal Information: Northern Journal of Applied Forestry; (United States), Vol. 11:2; ISSN 0742-6348
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
TOXICITY
PINES
SENSITIVITY
SELENIUM
SOILS
CONTAMINATION
ROOT ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION
CONIFERS
ELEMENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PINOPHYTA
PLANTS
SEMIMETALS
SORPTION
TREES
UPTAKE
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology