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BENEFITS OF SILICON Silicon: The Misunderstood Element
Perhaps no other element is more misunderstood and underappreciated than silicon. Widely viewed originally as an
element unessential for plant life, now silicon is scientifically known to provide countless benefits to plants, benefits that
cannot and should not be denied. Because of its highly particular nature (i.e. high pH and tendency to precipitate/fallout in
solution if mixed incorrectly, etc.) and widely misunderstood necessity, it is commonly omitted from hydroponic
nutrients. However, just because it is not included in most nutrient brands product range, does not mean that it should be
excluded from your garden or deprived from your plants.
The primary issue with attempting to classify silicon’s essentiality to plant life stems from silicon’s abundance on our
planet. It seems that silicon can be found just about anywhere (and rightfully so, given that roughly 28% of Earth is
comprised of Si). What we do know, as a result of numerous silicon-additive studies, is that plants fare much better
throughout all growth cycles with the addition of silicon through increased yields, growth and protection against toxic
heavy metals, cold and heat stress, pests and pathogens.
Chemistry
By mass, silicon is the eighth most common element in the universe and is also the second most abundant element on
Earth. It is interesting to note that nearly 90% of the Earth’s crust is comprised of silicate minerals (containing oxygen,
silicon, and various reactive metals - Mica and Feldspar are great examples). These complex silicate minerals are the
most commonly encountered form of silicon. Very rarely are pure, elemental silicon crystals ever found in nature.
It was initially believed that silicon was transported along with water, but recent research has indicated otherwise. What
we now know is that silicon is actively absorbed through various transport proteins, as shown by the recent discovery of
silicon transport genes in rice species (Ma et al. (2006)). The specific transporters are Lsi1 and Lsi2 (Lsi = Low-silicon) and
are located on the distal and proximal sides of the endo and exo dermises of root cells, respectively. From here, movement
continues upwards as an inorganic solute into the xylem, much like other elements (i.e. potassium).
Benefits of Si to Plants
While silicon provides many benefits for plants including increased shoot and root density and increased yields (of which
up to 65ppm of Si has been shown to be the most advantageous in hydroponic systems), it more importantly provides a
much needed defense for plants against both biotic and abiotic stressors. Silicon is unique in that it provides both physical
and biochemical protection. It is widely known that silicon is deposited in the cell wall of many plants, however, research
has shown that silicon deposits are also found in trichomes.
These deposits act quite literally as a physical barrier, preventing attacks from pathogens and herbivores. Given that
trichomes are the primary site of secondary metabolite production, bolstering trichomes results in a more efficacious use
of a plant’s endogenous secondary metabolites for pathogenic protection and an overall increase in trichome quality and
health.
Silica has also been shown to be an inducer of SAR (systemic acquired resistance) - stimulating natural plant defense
responses. These defense responses are effective against many diseases and insect attacks, including powdery mildew
prevention, fungal disease protection, and biting insect suppression (mites, whiteflies, etc.) for which it is registered with
the EPA for use.
Perhaps the most intriguing facet of silicon as of late is research indicating that silicon plays a significant role in promoting
the biosynthesis of various defense compounds. While the exact mechanism is still unclear, it is speculated that silicon
forms a ligand of an organic metabolite that results in the promotion of defense genes within the plant. What we do know
is that in conditions where plants are facing various stressors, the up-regulation of defense mechanism genes is heavily
influenced by the presence of silicon.
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CO
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EDITIO N
GROWERS
GUIDE
BENEFITS OF SILICON General Benefits of Si to Plants
• Increased yields
• Slows transpiration rate
• Regulation of toxic elements
• Increased shoot and root density
• Increased cell wall strength (i.e. reduced bud flop)
• Resistance to pests and pathogens (i.e. disease and fungi)
• Resistance to adverse conditions (i.e. cold, drought, salinity, radiation, etc.)
• SAR stimulation - Defense gene promotion/up-regulation
• Overall reduced IPM (integrated pest management) burden
Both biotic and abiotic stressors are affected, as silicon has been proven scientifically to relieve and prevent a broad
range of plant stressors. This is another unique feature inherent to silicon - protection offered across a wide range of
stressors that vary immensely in their method of attack on plants. Below are the preventative and protective benefits
against biotic and abiotic stressors provided by the use of silicon in plants:
Biotic Stress Prevention
• Protection and resistance to pests
• Protection and resistance to diseases
• Protection and resistance to fungal attacks
Abiotic Stress Prevention
• Increases drought resistance
• Relief of heavy metal toxicity
• Prevention of radiation damage
• Helps prevent nutrient imbalances
• Protective in freezing conditions
• Decreases overall climate stress
• Greatly relieves salt stress
Conclusion
As one can see, there are numerous advantages to employing the use of silicon in any garden. From directly influencing
overall health and growth, positive regulation of genetic information, to bolstering plants’ defense mechanisms, silicon is
by far one of the most essential, non-essential elements known for plants. The efficacious utilization of this excellent
quasi-essential element is critical to the success of any healthy garden. Our team of top-notch scientists at Dutch Master
have perfected the formulation of Sila-Guard to provide the precise amount of silicon in the correct form to enable plants
to thrive. Always remember to add your silicon product to water first, prior to adding any other fertilizers - this will prevent
potential fallout/precipitation of your nutritive elements. Bolster your IPM and your plants natural defenses through both
root and foliar feeding with Sila-Guard!
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