Importance of silicon in agriculture

Sustainable agriculture emerges as a system that protects the environment

and natural agricultural resources, has lower production costs and higher net

returns. As the basic principles of sustainable agriculture in the world,

minimum amount of agricultural chemicals should be used in order to protect

the environment and increase productivity. The use of different chemicals to

increase crop productivity may have adverse effects on ecosystems. Due to the

rapid increase in human population, the demand for nutrition needs continues

increase in food production. However, biotic and abiotic stresses caused by

pests and climate change significantly reduce crop productivity in agriculture.

Silicon can act as an anti-stress agent and play a protective role against abiotic

and biotic environmental stresses. Silicon can provide economic and ecological

benefits in plant growing. Silicon is also an advantage for sustainable

agriculture, as it is the second most abundant element in the world. Extractable

forms of Si in soil include amorphous, active and water-soluble silicon element.

Plants generally can uptake Si as the forms of orthosilicic (H4SiO4) or silicic

acid (Si(OH)4) through their roots. The availability of Si by the plant depends

on the humidity, temperature, pH and the accompanying ions in the

adsorption-desorption process of silicon in the soil. Especially in recent years,

soil and foliar Si treatments have been made against Si deficiency in plants. In

this review, the importance and applications of silicon for agriculture are

emphasized.