ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SILICA IN BIOLOGICAL AND MICROBIAL STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR CROP PRODUCTION

The most prevalent mineral in the earth's mantle is silicon, which ranks second only to oxygen, but unlike oxygen, it has not been shown to be necessary for plant development. Plants can only absorb silicon in one of two forms: silicic acid (Si (OH) 4) or mono silicic acid (H4 SiO4), neither of which is found in the planet's crust as silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon fertilizer has been shown toboost agricultural output and sustainability, and its use has been met with widespread praise. When water is lost via the stomata of a plant, the gel that has been polymerized from the silicon solution in the roots is precipitated out of solution. It has been shown that polymerized gel has no significant part in the physical functions of the plant system. This article reviews the function that silicon in soil, water, and plants plays in protecting ecosystems against abiotic and biotic pressures. The interplay between silicon, plant species, and environments is nuanced.