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The aim of this study was to assess status of selenium (Se) and other trace elements in relation to soil properties in the arid soils of Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia. The soils were analyzed for physico-chemical properties and status of available micronutrients. Shoots samples of corn and alfalfa plants analyzed for Se, Mo, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. The results showed that the soils were moderately to high alkaline reaction, high in sand content, low in organic matter (OM) and low in cation exchangeable capacity (CEC). Available Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Mo of alfalfa soils ranged from 3.07-19.07, 2.08-31.8, 0.704-.40, 0.09-1.42, undetectable -0.07 mg kg(-1), respectively. Meanwhile, in soil samples collected from corn farms, available Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Mo ranged from 1.70-8.35, 0.74-10.5, 0.82-3.12, 0.32-3.91, undetectable -0.04 mg kg(-1), respectively. The shoot contents of Se, Mo, Zn and Cu were low and deficient in alfalfa and corn plants. However, it was observed that the shoot contents of Fe and Mn were sufficient. Based on correlation coefficients and multivariate analyses including principal component (PCA) and cluster analyses (CA), soil properties of clay content, CEC and OM altered trace elements availability and consequently can modify the response of forage plant in study area. (C) 2017 Friends Science Publishers