A naturally occurring mineral and the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, silicon is everywhere. The problem is, only a small fraction in our agricultural soils is soluble and plant-ready.
In a previous blog post, we discussed the many benefits of silicon to soil health and human health. Here we discuss its role in helping plants become more resistant to pests and disease.
Benefits of Silicon
For starters, supplemental silicon contributes to stronger stems. This helps makes plants more resistant to injuries caused by insects and other pests. In addition, plants with strong stems are able to stand strong and tall—capturing more light and maximizing photosynthesis.
Plant-ready silicon also helps build the strength of cell walls. As a result, plants are better able to suppress disease. At Rutgers University, pumpkins grown in soil amended with silicon had less powdery mildew disease (a disease that infects leaves and causes loss of foliage) and improved yields.
From Rutgers University, research also shows that silicon can:
- Balance the negative effects of too much nitrogen
- Suppress diseases that are caused by bacteria and fungi (e.g., powdery mildew, leaf spot)
- Suppress pests like stem borers and spider mites
- Help plants withstand environmental stressors like drought, extreme temperatures and excess salt
Almost all soils can benefit from the application of soluble silicon, even sandy soils. (Although sand is mostly silicon dioxide, it is not in a soluble format that plants can use.) Indoor growing situations, i.e., greenhouse and hydroponic systems, can also benefit from silicon nutrition.
As awareness grows, the hope is that commercial growers will become less reliant on chemical pesticides to manage pests and disease and follow the lead of home gardeners and organic farmers who are using Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. It is derived from volcanic basalt and 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.
