Plant available selenate was measured in a soil extract by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Selenate in soil was first extracted with potassium sulfate then extracted into toluene fron an iodide‐sulfuric acid media. Aliquots of the toluene were injected into the graphite furnace for selenium determination. Quantities of extractable selenium measured using the electrothermal atomic absorption method compared favorably with the results of determinations using a fluorometric technique on aliquots of the soil extract. The simplicity of the procedure allowed for the precise determination of soil selenate in a brief period of time.