Biofortification of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) with iodine in a plant-calcareous sandy soil system irrigated with water containing KI

•The plant growth was stimulated at iodine concentration of 0.10 and 0.25 mg/L•Iodine in concentration of 0.50 mg/L hampered the growth of bean and lettuce plants•Iodine concentration changed in the order of root > leaves > stem > pods•Maximum concentration of I in edible parts were 1.8 (bean) and 5.6 (lettuce) mg/kg•Essential element transport in lettuce was stimulated at all iodine concentrations