Silicon nutrition

Arable crops
Cereals accumulate silicon. Deposition of silicon in cell walls of the stems reduces the risk of lodging. Silicon also enhances disease resistance. Wheat and barley for example are less sensitive to powdery mildew after fertilisation with basic slag or other silicon containing products. In rice and sugarcane growing, silicon fertilisers are widely used because of the clear benefits.

Fruit and vegetables
Addition of silicon to the nutrient solution enhances powdery mildew resistance of cucumber plants. Also courgette and other soilless-grown vegetables benefit from silicon application. In experiments with lettuce silicon has shown to reduce manganese toxicity.

Ornamentals
Silicon enhances growth of some pot plants and prolong vase life of several cut flowers. Silicon also enhances black spot resistance of roses and favours rooting of rose cuttings and survival of Hedera helix cuttings. Bamboo needs silicon for an attractive leaf colour. Seedlings of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) grow faster and are less drought sensitive if silicon is added.

© Gert van den Berg 2008