Imagine an element that could protect your plants from nearly everything, from pests and diseases to extreme environmental stress. That element is Silicon (Si).
While officially classified as a non-essential mineral because plants can technically survive and reproduce without it, silicon is a powerhouse for plant health. At Agresol, we view it as a critical tool for building defense and resilience in any regenerative system.
First, watch the video below from our Youtube channel Agresol (and make sure to subscribe!)
The Power of Cell Wall Strength
Silicon is the second most abundant element in the soil after oxygen, typically found in the form of silicates. Its most vital role is in cell wall strength.
When a plant absorbs silicon, it is deposited between the cell wall and the cuticle, creating a hard, rigid protective layer. This provides a multi-layered defense system:
Physical Defense Barrier: This hardened layer acts as a shield that pathogens simply cannot puncture. It has been shown to significantly decrease diseases like powdery mildew in wheat, rye, cucumbers, and strawberries.
Immune System Boost: Beyond the physical barrier, silicon applications actually increase the plant’s internal immune response.
Structural Integrity: Silicon helps counteract the “flimsy” growth caused by over-applying nitrogen. By strengthening the cell wall, it helps plants stand up straighter, reducing lodging and ensuring better light penetration through the canopy for maximum photosynthesis.
Drought Resilience and Stress Management
In a climate like Australia’s, silicon’s ability to improve water use efficiency is a massive opportunity.
Because the cell walls are stronger and more rigid, the plant can physically keep more water in. This reduces evaporation and increases drought resilience.
Additionally, silicon helps alleviate abiotic stress—the non-living factors that limit yield. It can help the plant manage mineral toxicities (such as high sodium, chloride, aluminum, or manganese) by strengthening root cells and facilitating the uptake of other necessary minerals.
The Biological Key: Unlocking Soil Silicon
The irony of silicon is that while there is plenty in the soil, it is often unavailable because it weathers very slowly from parent material.
Availability is directly proportional to microbial activity. Specific “silicate-solubilizing bacteria” work to release silica into the soil solution where the plant can finally absorb it. Therefore, the biggest strategy for increasing silicon in your crops is increasing the biological activity in your soil.
Application Recommendations
At Agresol, we use soil tests to check both total and available silicon levels, as well as sap tests to see what is actually making it into the plant.
Foliar Applications: Potassium silicate is highly effective, especially before a drought, as both potassium and silicon help regulate transpiration. We also recommend a silica, calcium, and boron mix for ultimate cell wall strength during critical growth stages.
Soil Applications: If your total silicon is below 1,000 ppm, a small application of soft rock phosphate, crusher dust, or diatomaceous earth can help.
Biological Priming: If your totals are high but availability is low, it’s a biological problem. In this case, use seed treatments or soil primers to kickstart the microbiome.
Summary
Silicon is the ultimate “small input” for strengthening your farm against the unpredictable. By fostering a healthy microbiome to deliver this mineral, you create a crop that is resilient to pests, disease, and drought.
If you would like to start implementing a regenerative silicon strategy to protect your yield, then sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with Agresol today to review your soil health and build a more resilient farm.
