Effect of silicate fertilizers on wheat and soil properties in Southeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. A preliminary study

Abstract

Silicon is a major component in soils and is essential for the development of certain crops that produce silicophytoliths. Although there are studies about the effect of silicate fertilizers, there is no research in soils of the Pampean Plains of Argentina. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of two different sources of silicate fertilizers on plant and soil available silicon content and its role in the physical and chemical properties of agricultural soils under a wheat crop in southeastern Buenos Aires province. Field tests were carried out with the application of liquid and powder silicate fertilizers. Si content was analyzed in plant material. Morphological, physical and chemical properties were determined on surface soil samples. The Si content on wheat has doubled throughout the trial. The contribution of Si to the soil solution would be similar with both silicate fertilizers and the available phosphorus content showed a negative relationship with the available Si content. Such fertilization slightly influenced the structural stability and granulometry of soils. Although this work shows the first results about the effect of silicate fertilizers in agroecosystems of Argentina, it is necessary to deepen the knowledge about their effect on plant and soil quality.