Si-Based Biostimulators

Abstract

Biostimulants are a new type of agrochemicals that are highly effective when applying low doses (up to 10 kg/ha). The interest in the use of biostimulants is confirmed by the appearance of not only scientific papers, but also the formation in various countries of legislative bases regulating the use and classification of this type of substances in agriculture. Thanks to the influence of silicon-containing compounds as biostimulators of plant growth, several tasks of modern agriculture can be comprehensively solved: to minimize the effects of stress factors, to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizer doses, to improve the quality of products, to stop soil degradation. The range of global manufacturers of silicon biostimulants is represented by liquid (monosilicon acid) or solid (amorphous silica or silica gel) forms. There are several silicon-mediated mechanisms that provide plant protection in conditions of biotic and abiotic stress. There is a hypothesis of the influence of silicon on the signaling system of plants, which requires additional research.