Silicon, a loyal ally for the modern farmer

It is neither a fertilizer nor a biostimulant, but an essential element that protects, prevents, and enhances the natural defenses of crops. It is not surprising that plants have developed, over millions of years, a close and vital relationship with the silicon present in the soil in the form of sand and clay particles (aluminosilicates). Naturally, farmers think that plants have enough silicon. But this is a mistaken perception: the only molecule bioavailable to plants is monosilicic acid (Msa), which is highly unstable and often deficient in soils. It is naturally released from rocks and silica minerals through hydrolysis with weak organic and carbonic acids present in the soil. However, it easily polymerizes into long-chain polysilicic acids, which are biologically inactive. The fact that silicon does not "kill or cure" could weaken the interest of farmers, the supply chain, and the authorities responsible for making decisions in the agricultural sector. Moreover, it is quite ...