Plant-Ready Silicon is Essential for Soil Health and Fertility

Silicon

Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is derived from finely milled volcanic basalt and nothing more. With no synthetic chemicals or man-made additives, our rock dust is approved for use in organic production.

Yet we’ve noticed puzzled expressions when people see silicon dioxide (SiO2) listed as an ingredient. “Hey, isn’t this supposed to be an all-natural product?” they ask. It is! Let us explain why.

Silicon is a naturally occurring mineral and the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust (after oxygen). Basically, it is everywhere. Until recently, it was thought that plants would almost never be deficient since the soil contains such huge reservoirs of silicon.

Yet the problem lies with the form of silicon that can be absorbed by plants. Only a small fraction of silicon in our agricultural soils is soluble and plant-ready. As a result, researchers and soil scientists are beginning to understand the benefits of making soluble silicon available for plant growth.

Research shows that applying supplemental silicon can suppress disease, decrease injuries from insects and pests, and improve a crop’s ability to handle environmental stress. Studies on the benefits of silicon have included everything from sugarcane and rice to corn, wheat, oats, pumpkins, Kentucky bluegrass and potted dogwood trees. (For more details, read “The Soil Profile” produced by Rutgers University.)

This is where the benefits of basalt come in. Compared to other volcanic rocks, basalt weather relatively quickly which means it breaks down readily in soil. Specific benefits of silicon nutrition include:

  • Increased strength of cell walls, making plants more resistant to pests and disease
  • Stronger stems – helps plants stand tall and capture more light (maximizes photosynthesis)
  • Improved drought resistance and increased salt tolerance of plants
  • Increased root growth and higher yields
  • Enhanced nutrition and flavor of fruits and vegetables

Silicon is essential to human health as well, and is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Silicon deposits can be found in the kidneys, liver and lungs as well as in bones, nails, teeth, tendons and arteries. Silicon helps maintain the proper balance between magnesium and calcium, and helps your body absorb the calcium that leads to strong and healthy bones.

Unfortunately, without supplements many of us don’t get enough silicon in our daily diets. Commercial fruits and vegetables that look good on the grocery store shelves often lack essential nutrients and minerals that contribute to optimal health. That’s why more and more home gardeners, organic farmers and natural growers use Cascade Minerals. Our Remineralizing Soil Booster puts soluble silicon into the soil where it can be absorbed by plants that grow strong and healthy to produce nutrient-rich food for humans.

This is an updated version of a blog post originally published in August 2013 and is the first in a multi-part series by Cascade Minerals on silicon’s benefits on the health of soil, plants and people.