Feeding olives with silicon

Researchers from the University of Cordoba have completed a study on the effectiveness of silicon fertilizers. They concluded that this element can protect against drought and a wide range of pests and diseases, and can also be applied to non-irrigated and irrigated olive groves without a negative impact on the environment.

Numerous studies have shown that silicon, the second most abundant element in the soil after oxygen, improves the ability of plants to withstand the effects of key stress factors, including drought, frost, salinization and nutrient imbalances, pests and pathogens. However, most of these studies studied only terrestrial crops such as wheat, rice, tomatoes and root crops.

To create a scientific basis for the effective application of silicon fertilizers in olive groves, the team conducted three experiments at the Rabanales experimental farm, University of Cordoba, using Arbequina and Picual varieties. In each experiment, the researchers studied the effectiveness of two methods of applying silicon fertilizers: direct application to the roots using irrigation water and to the leaves using foliar spraying. After 120 days of treatment, a significant accumulation of silicon was observed in the roots of all plants. The leaves and shoots also contained significant amounts of silicon.

Of particular importance is the accumulation of leaves. The silicone layer that forms between the outer layers of the leaf acts as a physical barrier, providing protection from many pests and diseases, while not harming, but enhancing photosynthesis in the leaves. Silicon induces or enhances biochemical/molecular mechanisms. They allow the plant to utilize protective compounds such as phenols and phytoalexins, and activate protective enzymes such as peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Most olive groves receive rain irrigation, and foliar treatment is only becoming widespread, and now it has become clear how to make it more efficient. This discovery could have significant economic and environmental consequences. Due to its natural abundance in the earth's crust, including the topsoil, silicon is easily accessible and practically poses no environmental danger.