Abstract: Thirteen soil profiles and 38 soil samples from the plow layers of some randomly chosen crop fields in Yixing were collected in an experiment to study variation of total selenium in soils and soil profiles.The soil samples were digested in HNO^-₃-HClO₄-HF（V∶V∶V=8∶1∶2） solution and concentrations of total Se were determined with atomic fluoresce spectroscope.Total Se of the tested top soil samples ranged from 0.33 to 2.25 μg·g^-1 and over 80% of the top soil samples exceeded 0.45 μg·g^-1,the critical value for Se-rich soils.While Se accumulation in top soil was observed in all the soils tested,total Se varied with depth in soil profile,differed from soil to soil,and affected by land use.Total Se in dry croplands tended to be lower than in paddy fields and higher in soils rich in SOM and iron oxyhydrates.Statistical data show dominance of SOM in Se binding and accumulation in the studied soils.The findings here evidence that the area is high in top soil Se.However,translocation of Se from soil to plant or food crops needs further studies.

Key words: Jiangsu, Yixing, paddy soil, total selenium, distribution