Studies in Plant Science | Chapter 7 | Effect of silicon on plant growth and crop yield
Integrated management of six macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) as well as the seven micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), and chloride (Cl) are the ones that most agronomists only consider as essential for sustainable crop yields. However, under special crop/soil agriculture conditions there are some “non-essential” elements, like silicon (Si) that will enhance crop yield by promoting several desirable plant physiological processes.
Due to the desilication process, Si in the soil is continuously lost as a result of leaching process. Subtropical and tropical soils are generally low in plant-available Si and would benefit from Si fertilization. Siliconcontent in some regions might be limited to sustainable crop production. The need for proper Si management to increase yield and sustain crop productivity appears to be necessary in temperate as well in tropical countries. In addition, Si diminution in the soil can occur in intensive cultivation practices and continuous monoculture of high-yielding cultivars. As a result, these soils are generally low in plant-available Si (
Juo and Sanchez, 1986;
Foy, 1992). Rice and sugarcane grown in rotation on organic and sandy soils have shown positive agronomic responses to pre-plant applications of calcium silicate slag (
Anderson, 1991).