This is because the form in which silicon most often appears in nature, silica, is inert, insoluble and cannot be absorbed. Given how common silicon is, it may come as a surprise that plants growing in nature do not always have abundant levels of the element available to them.
It is particularly ubiquitous in the ocean: Plankton and sponges absorb silicon-based compounds and use them to form their microscopic skeletons and spicules. It is the primary component of sand and clay, the basis for granite, amethyst and quartz and the key ingredient in glass, computer chips and fiber-optic cables. The second-most abundant element in the earth’s crust, it bonds readily with oxygen to create some of the most common materials on the planet. Silicon is everywhere, in one form or another.
Silicon dioxide supplement absorbancy how to#
Finally, we offer advice on how to select a powerful silicon supplement from among the many options out there. We then outline the benefits of silicon supplementation for crops and the ways in which industry marketing and inconsistent label requirements obscure what’s actually in the bottle. We also look at the challenge posed by the immobility and inertness of silica, the most common silicon compound in nature. First, we examine silicon’s pathway into the plant as it hitches a ride in a chain of different silicon-based compounds. This white paper lays the confusion to rest.
So what is the best silicon-based compound to feed plants? This is not at all clear to many commercial growers, who hear a lot of conflicting advice. Like most mineral elements, it needs to be provided in a form that the roots can take up. The trouble is that silicon itself cannot be absorbed by plants. Growers are left wondering, “What am I buying?” Even the terminology-silicon, silica, silicic acid, silicate-is often used interchangeably in the fertilizer industry, despite the fact that these terms mean different things. With every nutrient company touting the superiority of its silicon-based product, it’s no wonder growers get confused and struggle to make an informed choice. This poses a challenge for growers seeking to choose the best product. Yet the fertilizer market is flooded with misinformation about silicon supplements, including confusing labeling and misleading marketing claims with no basis in science. Silicon packs a powerful punch, increasing crop quality, strength and resilience.