Xinjiang survey finds selenium-rich soil, boosting agricultural potential

More than 3 million hectares of selenium-rich soil have been discovered in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, providing a foundation for the development of high-quality farmland and specialized agriculture in the area, according to a recently completed nine-year survey.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient that plays a key role in bolstering the immune system, slowing the process of aging and reducing the impact of cardiovascular diseases. Selenium-rich soil is relatively scarce in China.

The survey, conducted by Xinjiang's natural resources department and the Xi'an bureau of the China Geological Survey in Shaanxi province, found that selenium-rich soil forms a belt stretching nearly 1,000 kilometers along the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. The area extends from the Yanqi Basin in the east, through Aksu prefecture to the Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture in the west.