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Surviving drought and better utilizing phosphorus are advantages of fertilizing with silicon. In the face of climate change, it is worth considering this.
Surviving droughts and utilizing phosphorus better are advantages of fertilizing with silicon. It is worth researching this in the face of climate change.
Silicon fertilization brings benefits in agriculture. Crops can better withstand drought periods. Silicic acid enhances the utilization of phosphorus. In the era of climate change, fertilization with silicon in the form of amorphous, or "disordered" or "shapeless" silicate is being investigated. But is it worth it?
Is silicon a hopeful solution for droughts?
A pilot project in Brandenburg shows that wheat yields could be increased by 80 percent compared to unfertilized crops in an extreme drought year with the use of amorphous silicate. At the same time, phosphorus fertilization could be reduced by 50 percent. Silicon is present in the earth's crust, but in soils, it is usually insoluble and locked in quartz or silicates that decompose very slowly. Therefore, plants can hardly absorb this silicon. Amorphous silicate releases silicic acids, the water-soluble form of silicon (Si). The simplest silicic acid is mono- or ortho-silicic acid, chemically Si(OH)4 or H4SiO4. Roots can absorb these and incorporate them into the plant metabolism. This increases stress tolerance and reduces water loss.
What are the benefits of silicic acid?
Silicates are an important component of soil. The removal of the harvest leads to a strong depletion of amorphous silicate. This can have a detrimental effect on the field, as silicate is important for many soil processes and helps with drought resilience, phosphorus availability, and plant health. Despite promising results, silicon fertilization is still in its early stages. It is hindered by high costs, low availability, and a lack of long-term studies. The digital magazine shows how silicon can be integrated into fertilization practices by incorporating silicon-rich crop straw or plant charcoal. You can learn about why soil analysis is necessary or how silicate can be combined with compost.
This was a highly condensed summary of the original article on silicon fertilization. Read the detailed technical article now and test the digital edition of agrarheute without obligation.
