Evolution of dimethylselenide from soils.

Alcohols, carbonyl compounds, and fatty acids were formed in two glucose-amended soils incubated under argon, but dimethylselenide was evolved under argon only from one, a selenium-rich clay, after the addition of selenite and glucose. Substantial quantities of dimethylselenide were released from the four soils tested when they were incubated with glucose and selenite in air. No dimethylselenide was produced in the selenium-rich clay soil in air if it received glucose but no selenite.