5/4/2023 0 Comments Silica for plants![]() For recirculating systems add the GT Silicon to the tank on a weekly basis.Īny precautions? Yes. How often should I dose the tank? For run to waste systems, add the GT Silicon when making the nutrient solution. If GT Silicon is diluted in the nutrient tank at the rate of 1ml per litre of nutrient solution, it will give a concentration of 20ppm silicon, the usual Dutch recommendation. OK, how do I use GT Silicon? Silicon cannot be added directly to concentrated nutrient solutions because it will precipitate from the solution and be unavailable to the plant so it has to be supplied as a separate additive. It has even been claimed that the absence of silicon from nutrient solutions constitutes a form of stress to the plant. These nutrients are not totally essential to the plant but the plant will grow better if it is present. What’s it all about? Silicon belongs to a class of plant nutrients termed “beneficial nutrients”. The stronger this barrier the better a plant can resist attacks from insects and fungi and also the increased cell wall rigidity gives better tolerance to heat and water stress. What does it do then? The effect of silicon comes from the fact that plants deposit silicon in their cell walls and this has the effect of strengthening the cell wall which acts as a barrier between the inside of the plant cell and the environment. Its purpose is to add silicon to hydroponic nutrient solutions. This is often referred to as potassium silicate. What is it exactly? GT Silicon is a concentrated mixture of silicic acid and potassium hydroxide. dilute with water before adding to tank.Always check the pH after silicon has been added to the tank. Silicates are very alkaline and care must be taken with its use. Silicon will strengthen plant cell walls and become a barrier against water loss, fungal infection, particularly mildews, and insect and mite attack. ![]() Silicon is a beneficial plant nutrient found in virtually all soils but not, until now, in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Silicon concentration in soil water generally does not get above 20 ppm and this is the level we recommend for hydroponic nutrient solutions. As you can imagine the concentration of silicon in soil water is not that high because rocks do not tend to be all that soluble. Plants absorb silicon from silica that has dissolved into the soil water. In conclusion, many forms of silica exist in nature and compelling data support myriad beneficial effects of silica in water.Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust making up a component of most rocks. However, a few rodent studies have been conducted, which indicate a No Observed Adverse Effects Level (NOAEL) of 50,000 ppm (mg/L) for dietary silica. Very little toxicity data exist regarding aqueous silica consumption due, in part, to the lack of anecdotal reports of toxicity and general presumption of safety. However, deficiency induces deformities in skull and peripheral bones, poorly formed joints, reduced contents of cartilage, collagen, and disruption of mineral balance in the femur and vertebrae. Compelling data suggest that silica is essential for health although no RDI has been established. Orthosilicic acid is the form predominantly absorbed by humans and is found in numerous tissues including bone, tendons, aorta, liver and kidney. There are several water soluble forms of silica referred collectively to as silicic acid (ortho, meta, di, and tri-silicates), which are present in surface and well water in the range of 1-100 mg/L. When associated with metals or minerals the family of silicates is formed. Chemically, silica is an oxide of silicon, viz., silicon dioxide, and is generally colorless to white and insoluble in water. Silica has widespread industrial applications including use as a food additive, i.e., anti-caking agent, as a means to clarify beverages, control viscosity, as an anti-foaming agent, dough modifier, and as an excipient in drugs and vitamins. However, multiple forms of silica exist in nature and silicon, a component, is the second most prevalent element after oxygen. There is considerable interest in the effects of silica on human health in contrast to prior research which focused solely on the toxic effects of inhaled crystalline silica.
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