Silicon in crop production and crop protection -A review

Silicon is accumulated in plants higher than the essential major nutrients. Although it is not considered as an essential element it is accepted as an agronomically beneficial element as it confers rigidity and strength, resistance against pests and diseases, improves water economy by reducing transpiration rate, alleviates the ill effects of abiotic stresses and enhances crop yield. Its continuous removal from soil by cropping is left unreplenished and hence the demand for silicon by crops escalates when other fertilizers are applied. As silicon nutrition reverses the succulence induced by high nitrogen and enhances crop growth and yield silicon fertilizers based on silicate minerals, ashes and slags have come into vogue. Solubilisation of silica in situ in soil by silicate solubilising bacteria to supplement crop need is also made. The role of silicon nutrition in crop production and crop protection are reviewed.