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New generation of Si fertilizers

Matichenkov V.V.* and Bocharnikova E.A.**
Institute Basic Biological Problems Russian Academy of Science, Pushchino, 142290,
Russia, e-mail: vvmatichenkov@rambler.ru
Institute Physical-Chemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science Russian Academy
of Science, Pushchino, 142290, Russia, e-mail: mswk@rambler.ru
Abstract
The evolution of any fertilizer can usually be traced to an initial simple component
material that is elaborated into a specific form with complex mixtures of synergetic
substances which improve its efficiency, making it an easy product for seed treatments,
soil, foliar and other specific applications. The advancement of Si fertilizers has had a
comparable evolution. The simple application of 2-4 tons per hectare of low efficiency
Si-rich materials by broadcasting, evolved into 1 to 50 kg/application per hectare of
activated Si substances, together with innovating special seed treatments and foliar
applications at a specific phase of plant growth. Several types of the new generation of Si
fertilizers (both solid and liquid) were extensively tested in field and greenhouses, during
the past 25 years. These fertilizers are the result of blending Si together with specifically
tested and proven synergetic ingredients (organic substances, specific microbes,
micronutrients, et al.), which have ameliorating influence on active Si performance . Both
liquid and solid forms of the new generation of Si fertilizers, have extremely high content
of plant-available Si. A recent field test with liquid complexed active Si fertilizer
(concentrated monosilicic acid with specific organic substances) was conducted in
Canada on 200 ha. of wheat with a control area of 100 ha. This fertilizer was applied
together with seedling at the rate of 0.5 liter of concentrated fertilizer per hectare
(dilution of 1:1000). When harvested (early September 2008) the tested fields yielded 6.3
tons/ha. whereas the control fields produced 3.9 tons/ha. However the remarkable news
was the fact that protein content of the wheat treated with Si fertilizer was 12.8% vs. the
non treated wheat which was at 11.2% level. The new generation of solid Si fertilizers
was tested in greenhouse with cucumbers, cauliflowers and tomatoes. These Si fertilizers
contained activated Diatomaceous Earth (with high content of plant-available Si),
specific soil microbes and organic substances for microbe nutrition and re-activation of
Si. One type of active and complexed Si fertilizer was applied to the soil during seedling
of the cultivated plants. Another type of solid Si fertilizer was applied by foliar at 1
month and 1.5 month after seedling at the corresponding rate of 10 kg/ha. Cauliflowers
yield increased from 5.3 t/ha to 10.6 t/ha with only foliar application treatment, and from
11.6 t/ha. to 14.4 t/ha with soil and foliar application treatments with various Si
fertilizers. Tomatoes yield increased from 34.5 t/ha in the control plot to 42.8 t/ha in
tested area, with only foliar application treatment. This tomatoes yield further improved
to 43.0 t/ha when we also applied the treatment to the soil beside the foliar application
with Si fertilizer. Cucumbers yield also increased from 21.3 t/ha to 39.6 t/ha with only
foliar application treatment. By applying Si fertilizer only to the soil, cucumbers
production went from 21.3 t/ha. of the control plot to 28.1 and 25.8 t/ha of the tests plots.
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This mirrors the effect of the rates of soil application of the new Si fertilizer which were
40 and 10 kg/ha respectively. As we can see, the new generation of Si fertilizers has
excellent results and effects also at low rates of applications, can be used with various
types of applicators and for different cultivated plants. It is important to note that all
tested fertilizer are classify for organic agriculture.
Introduction
The application of silicon fertilizers results in increasing yield and quality of all crops via
improved plant resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses, increased volume and roots
mass, acceleration of plant growth and improvement of soil fertility (Ma & Takahashi,
2002; Snyder et al., 2006). However, traditional silicon fertilizers such as calcium
silicate, Diatomaceous Earth and Zeolites are applied at the rates of 1 to 4 tons per
hectare (Gascho, 2001; Snyder, 2001). The present economic situation has provoked
higher costs for energy and fuels and a consequent negative tendency towards the use of
traditional silicon fertilizers due to increased logistic and transportation costs. It is thus
necessary to improve the efficiency of these silicon fertilizers which will result in
reduced application rates and consequent lower transportation and application costs.
Another important feature of silicon fertilizers is their interacting relations with
other substances, which can be advantageous for increasing plant productivity. There are
humic substances, microbial cultures and natural pesticides (Biel et al., 2008). The
synergetic effect between active silicon and these materials must thus be brought into the
practical aspect of commercial applications. This realization will make it possible to
increase the efficiency of agriculture and at the same time, reduce maintenance costs.
To day the use of industrial waste and by-products as silicon fertilizers is
becoming quite popular (Snyder, 2001). However some of these industrial by-products
contain heavy metals and other toxic materials, which could increase the risk and level of
soil pollution. Therefore from common sense and ecological stand point, it will be a lot
safer and practically more profitable to use natural minerals such as Diatomaceous Earth
and Zeolites instead of these potentially unsafe materials.
All of the preceding is intended to illustrate that to-day; activated silicon-rich
minerals can be established, together with other natural/organic substances, as naturally-
safe fertilizers having beneficial effects on crops and soils. Such new generation of Si-
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based complex fertilizers have already been created and established by Terra Tech
(Miami, USA). The aim of this investigation was to determine the efficiency of these new
generation fertilizers on wheat, cauliflower, tomato and cucumbers.
Objects and methods
Both liquid and solid forms of the new generation Si fertilizers were used in field
and greenhouse tests, and humic substance was used as an integral part of the fertilizers.
The microorganisms strains (mycorrhiza from EcoMicrobials LLC (Miami, USA) were
used together with solid forms of activated silicon fertilizer. Liquid silicon fertilizer is
manufactured by TT, and solid activated silicon fertilizers were composed of
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) from Russia (Volga river region).
The special process for activation of natural DE was realized at the site of the
pilot plant. The content of active Si in DE, both before and after the activation process,
was determined by specially elaborated methods. Active Si was calculated with the
formula (Matichenkov, 2007):
Active Si = 10*Actual Si + Potential Si
Where Actual Si and Potential Si were measured according the following procedures:
Actual Si
1) 6 g samples were placed into 100 mL plastic containers; 2) 30-ml of water was
added to each container; 3) after 1 day, extraction was performed, with periodic shaking.
A sample was filtered, and a clean extract was analyzed for soluble monosilicic acid
using the Mallen and Raily method (Iler, 1979);
4) after 4 days, extraction was performed with periodic shaking. A sample was filtered,
and a clean extract was analyzed for soluble monosilicic acid.
Potential Si
1) 2 g samples were placed into 100 mL plastic containers; 2) 20-ml of 0.1 M
HCl was added to each container; 3) after 1 day extraction was performed with periodic
shaking, a sample was filtered, and a clean extract was analyzed for soluble monosilicic
acid.
The liquid complexed Si fertilizer (ZumSil) contains 20%2% of stabilized
monosilicic acid and up to 5% of humic substances. Demonstration of this fertilizers
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efficiency was conducted in Canada (Manitoba) with control plot of 100 hectares and 200
hectares test plot. The soil was characterized as Medium leached Chernozem (Mullisol).
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was used as tested plant. The tested substance was applied
at the rate 600 ml per hectare, previously diluted and added to normally apply liquid
fertilizers during seedling, only. The determination of the yield was realized using
automatic GPS system, combined with constant measuring of crop production in the
bunker.
The new generation of solid Si fertilizers was tested using cauliflowers (Brassica
oleracea L.), tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus
L.) as test plants. Activated DE was mixed with solid form of humic substance and
mycorrhiza (Fertilizer 1), and was applied with seeds at the rate of 40 kg/ha into the soil.
Secondly, the new generation of Si fertilizer, was only a combination of Activated DE
and humic substance (Fertilizer 2), which was applied with seeds into the soil at the rate
of 40 kg/ha this was followed by foliar applications at the rate 10 kg/ha after 1 and 1.5
month from seedling of the plants. Throughout the growing cycle, all vegetables grew in
greenhouse having standard organo-mineral substrate. The size of the tested plot was 4
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and all treatments had 4 replications.
Results and discussions
The activation of DE resulted in increased water content and acid extractable Si
(Table 1). The content of actual Si increased by 6-7 times and of active Si by 4-4.5
times. This means that theoretically it is possible to reduce the application rate of
standard silicon fertilizer by 5-7 times with activation. Activated silicon fertilizers will
have a more intense activity and influence on the biochemical process of soil-plant
ecosystems. Such activity will probably last a shorter time-period, due to the fact that
activated Si is used-up more intensively. Therefore the new generation of silicon
fertilizers, with low rate applications, is effective only during one growing season,
instead of the 2-3 year slow release-effect for standard silicon fertilizers, applied at 2-3
tons/ha. From a practical and economical view point, we recommend using low rates (40-
100 kg/ha for soil application, per season or/and 5-10 kg/ha for foliar application, several
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times per season) but frequently. As a result the high concentration of active Si will be
kept throughout the vegetative season at a minimum maintenance cost.
Table 1 Actual and potential Si in tested materials, mg/kg Si.
Materials Actual Si Potential Si Active Si
1 day 4 day
Sand 2-3 2-3 12-14 32-33
DE 42-51 70-90 520-600 940-1110
Activated DE 313-320 1395-1450 1300-1320 4430-4520
Out theoretical investigations were supported by data from field and greenhouse
tests. The application of liquid Si fertilizer (Zumsil) dramatically increased the yield of
wheat from 3.9 t/ha. in the control to 6.3 t/ha in the treated field (Table 2). The average
crop production was increased by 50% and maximum yield by 22%. The yield
increasing was governed by increasing the size of ear and amount of grains in ear.
Table 2 ZumSil effect on wheat, t/ha
Control ZumSil
Average yield Maximum yield Average yield Maximum yield
2.9/3.0 7.0 4.5/4.8 8.6
The results of the greenhouse tests are presented in Tables 3, 4 and 5. The
maximum increase in tomatoes yield (24.8%) was obtained from the plot with application
of Fertilizer 2 was both foliar and soil applications were conducted. If the new generation
silicon fertilizers were applied only to the soil, Fertilizer 1 would have obtained the best
effect (24.1%).
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Table 3 New generation Si fertilizer effect on tomatoes.
Treatment t/ha
Average Increasing, %
Control 34.52 -
Fertilizer 1 42.84 24.1
Fertilizer 2 (soil application only) 40.08 16.1
Fertilizer 2 (soil and foliar applications) 43.08 24.8
LSD
05
1.45
In the experiment with cucumbers the maximum effect was obtained with
Fertilizer 1 (85.8% yield increase), while the application of the new generation fertilizer
without mycorrizae, increased crop production only by 31.9% and 20.9% respectively for
soil application and for soil and foliar applications.
Table 4 New generation Si fertilizer effect on cucumbers.
Treatment t/ha
Average Increasing, %
Control 21.36 -
Fertilizer 1 39.69 85.8
Fertilizer 2 (soil application only) 28.18 31.9
Fertilizer 2 (soil and foliar applications) 25.83 20.9
LSD
05
2.35
The new generation of silicon fertilizers showed their maximum effect on
cauliflowers, where application of Fertilizer 1 (with mycorrhiza) increased the yield by
100%, soil application of Fertilizer 2 by 118% and both soil and foliar applications of
Fertilizer 2 by 173% (Table5).
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Table 5 New generation Si fertilizers, effect on cauliflowers.
Treatment t/ha
Average Increasing, %
Control 5.30 -
Fertilizer 1 10.65 100
Fertilizer 2 (soil application only) 11.61 118
Fertilizer 2 (soil and foliar applications) 14.49 173
LSD
05
2.20
All tests with the new generation of Si fertilizers, demonstrated that they are very
effective for increasing crop production at low application rates. It is important to note
that the main effect of new generation silicon fertilizers was observed on plant
physiology and biochemistry (increasing the size of ear, reduction of fungi infection,
acceleration of the fruit formation et. al.). Additional important benefits for the plants are
realized when the new Si fertilizers are also applied via foliar. It is important to note that
all tested fertilizer are classify for organic agriculture.
Our investigations also showed how important are the effects of a well balanced
system of synergistically compatible products for the soil plant ecosystem and crops
production. For example, probably the application of Fertilizer 1 should have been
combined with Fertilizer 2 and ZumSil, in order to obtain much better results. Our
immediate research affords will focus on comparing results obtained from various
combinations of active Si with product systems synergistically compatible.
References
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