Importance of Silicon in Soils and Plants

M. Yuvaraj; P. P. Mahendran

M. Yuvaraj Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai, Vellore, India.
P. P. Mahendran Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, India.

Keywords: Silicon in soil, silcon in plant, silicon cycle

Abstract

The crust of the earth is largely composed of silicon that is found primarily as silicate minerals, secondary alumino silicates and various forms of silicon dioxide. However, the abundance of silicon in soils is not an indication that sufficient supplies of soluble silicon are available for plant uptake. In this chapter, the outcomes of many years of research conducted on silicon are consolidated to understand the state of knowledge for silicon fertilization guidelines in crop production. The monosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄) is the form of silicon used by plants, which is found both in liquid and adsorbed phases of silicon in soils. Silicon plays a very important role in drought tolerance because silicon fed plants maintains higher leaf water potential. This is assumed to be due to the formation of silica cutical double layer on the epidermis.