Research on water savings and drought resistance
Silica fertilizers allow a reduction in irrigation rate by up to 50% and enhance drought resistance
The largest amount of fresh water (up to 70% worldwide) is consumed for agricultural purposes. Fresh water deficiency is a major limiting factor affecting the sustainable and productive agriculture in dry and semidry regions. Modern irrigation systems like surface and subsurface drip irrigation provide a significant reduction of fresh water consumption, but they are unsuitable for large fields and costly for ordinary farmers. Our greenhouse and climatic chamber tests on barley, corn, and cotton evidenced that additional plant Si nutrition contributes to the drought tolerance of cultivated plants. Silicon-supplied plants demonstrated an increase in the biomass by 15 to 50% under decreased water irrigation rate by 40 to 60%. Several hypotheses concerning the role of Si in water-stressed plants have been assumed: Si promotes additional root formation, reduces pore diameter of leaf blades, changes leaf orientation, optimizes water transport, and induces plant systemic resistance. Field tests in Russia (corn, wheat), USA (sorghum), Australia (sugarcane, corn) and China (potatoes) have shown that liquid and solid Si fertilizers allow a reduction in irrigation rate by up to 50% and enhance plant survival under drought. On average, crop yield increased by 11 to 35%. The combination of Si fertilizers and traditional NPK fertilizers provided the best effect on water- stressed plants. Solid Si fertilizers can be mixed with regular NPK fertilizers. Liquid Si-rich substances can be applied together with irrigation water or pesticides.
Link to the research document
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The research was published and shared during “SYMPHOS 2019”, 5th International Symposium on Innovation and Technology in the Phosphate Industry.
Silica Amendments & Salinity (Salt Toxicity) Research
Effect of Si on the distribution of Na (salt) in Barley - California State University, Fresno
This laboratory investigation with barley was conducted to determine the mechanism of salt toxicity. For the determination of monosilicic, polysilicic acids and Na in apoplast and symplast of roots, stems and leaves, we used a specifically elaborated methodology. The obtained result has shown that there are several mechanisms available to strengthen plants against Na toxicity through improving Si plant nutrition. Soluble Si compounds can block or delay Na transport in apoplast. Monosilicic acid protects chlorophyll molecules against the effect of Na demolition. Soluble Si reduces the active transport of Na into root apoplast. The cells in symplast of barley roots and stems have strong mechanisms for blocking of Na thus preventing sodium toxicity. On the other hand the optimization of Si plant nutrition can also initiate additional penetration of Na into root symplast. The obtained data also demonstrated that the main reserve of active Si, is locates in barleys leaves. When plants feel stress, this Si- reserve can be rapidly transported to problematic areas. This new methodology gives us the possibility to direct our investigation of plant physiological processes to a new level of knowledge.