Renato de Mello Prado
Krishan K. Verma
Hassan Etesami- 1Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Jaboticabal, Brazil
- 2Sugarcane Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- 3Department of Soil Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Editorial on the Research Topic
New advances of silicon in the soil-plant system
Silicon (Si) is increasingly recognized as a beneficial element that significantly enhances crop growth and productivity, particularly in the face of various abiotic and biotic stresses. Its role in protecting plants under stress conditions, as well as improving overall plant adaptability, has garnered considerable attention from researchers and agronomists alike. Notably, recent studies have demonstrated that Si can provide benefits even in the absence of stress, suggesting its potential to enhance plant nutrition and productivity in a sustainable manner (Prado, 2023; Verma et al., 2023). By mitigating the adverse effects of stress and promoting growth, Si contributes to sustainable agricultural practices that align with the need for environmentally friendly farming solutions (Prado et al., 2024). Nutritional disorders in crops are prevalent across various regions globally, and Si has been shown to enhance tolerance against deficiencies (Alves et al., 2024; Teixeira et al.; Silva et al., 2021; Teixeira et al., 2021) as well as against toxicity (Alves et al., 2023; Sousa Júnior et al., 2022; Barreto et al., 2022). This dual capacity makes Si a critical component for improving plant health and agricultural resilience.
As the impacts of climate change intensify, factors such as drought, salinity, and cold stress pose significant threats to plant vitality. These stressors, compounded by inadequate agricultural practices and the rising costs of fertilizers, highlight the urgent need to adopt strategies that enhance crop productivity while minimizing such challenges, particularly in field crops (Verma et al., 2024). Over the last two decades, there has been a notable increase in interest from the scientific community regarding the role of Si in soil and plant systems. Research findings thus far have been promising, indicating that Si can effectively mitigate various stresses and bolster agricultural resilience in a changing climate, with significant advancements in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in soil-plant interactions.
In this dedicated Research Topic, we have curated a collection of studies that delve into the multifaceted role of Si in enhancing soil-plant dynamics. One significant contribution is the work by Teixeira et al., which focuses on the role of Si in energy cane. Given its potential for renewable energy production, energy cane is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices. However, the study highlights challenges posed by iron deficiency in alkaline soils restricting growth. The authors demonstrate that Si enhances iron absorption, thereby improving nutritional efficiency and photosynthesis, ultimately leading to increased biomass production. The research suggests that Si can be strategically utilized to bolster growth and nutrition in energy cane, particularly in iron-deficient environments.
Water deficit is another critical stress impacting food security, compromising essential physiological and biochemical processes in plants. The study by Saja-Garbarz et al. explores how Si regulates water absorption in rapeseed roots facing drought stress and identifies the antioxidant components involved in combating stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Their findings indicate that Si not only improves water balance in rapeseed under drought conditions but also enhances catalase activity, thereby reducing oxidative stress in the roots.
Further expanding the narrative on Si’s benefits, research has also investigated its application in field crops that do not naturally accumulate this element, such as common beans. According to Teixeira et al., Si supplementation in irrigated common bean systems improves water use efficiency while simultaneously enhancing nutritional uptake, thus increasing the species’ tolerance to water-limited environments. Their recommendations for applying stabilized sodium silicate in varying irrigation conditions (6 kg/ha, 7 kg/ha, and 8 kg/ha for adequate, moderate, and severe water deficits, respectively) provide a practical framework for optimizing crop management strategies.
The role of the soil microbiome in supporting agricultural ecosystems cannot be understated, as it influences processes such as organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and plant growth promotion. Environmental stresses, however, often disrupt this sensitive balance. Etesami conducts a comprehensive review addressing how Si can enhance the resilience of the soil microbiome. The author discusses several mechanisms by which Si fosters microbiome stability, including improvement in soil pH, enhancement of nutrient and water availability, alteration of root exudation patterns, and stimulation of key microbial groups’ abundance and diversity. This insight underscores Si’s potential to contribute to the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems while maintaining soil health.
In summary, Si emerges as a pivotal element in enhancing plant resilience and productivity, particularly in the context of stress conditions exacerbated by climate change. The studies compiled in the Research Topic showcase Si’s multifaceted roles in various crops and highlight its potential applications for improving agricultural practices. As we look toward the future, several key areas warrant further exploration:
More in-depth research is needed to elucidate the specific physiological and biochemical pathways through which Si exerts its effects on different crops under various environmental conditions. Large-scale field trials assessing the efficacy of Si applications across diverse cropping systems and stress conditions will help validate laboratory findings and facilitate the integration of Si into practical agricultural practices. Investigating the interactions between Si and soil microbiota will deepen our understanding of how Si can enhance soil health and promote beneficial microbial communities. Research aimed at identifying and developing crop varieties with enhanced Si uptake and utilization will be essential for maximizing the benefits of this element. Exploring the synergistic effects of Si with organic amendments or other biostimulants can lead to the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. By pursuing these avenues of research, we can unlock the full potential of Si in the soil-plant system, contributing to enhanced food security and sustainable agricultural practices in an increasingly challenging global landscape.
Author contributions
RP: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. KV: Writing – review & editing. HE: Writing – review & editing.
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our gratitude to the authors and reviewers for their valuable contributions to this Research Topic, as well as to the editorial office for their support and assistance.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
Alves D. M. R., De Mello Prado R., Barreto R. F. (2024). Silicon and sodium attenuate potassium deficiency in Eruca sativa Mill. Food Chem. 432, 137225. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137225
Alves D. M. R., Oliveira J. N., Prado R. M., Ferreira P. M. (2023). Silicon in the form of nanosilica mitigates P toxicity in scarlet eggplant. Sci. Rep. 13, 9190. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-36412-w
Barreto R. F., De Mello Prado R., Lúcio J. C. B., Lopez-Diaz I., Carrera E., Carvalho R. F. (2022). Ammonium toxicity alleviation by silicon is dependent on cytokinins in tomato cv. micro-tom. J. Plant Growth Regul. 41, 417–428. doi: 10.1007/s00344-021-10314-5
Prado R. M. (2023). Benefits of silicon in the nutrition of plants. (Springer). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-26673-7
Prado R. M., Etesami H., Verma K. K. (2024). Silicon advances for sustainable agriculture and human health: increased nutrition and disease prevention. (Springer). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-69876-7
Silva D. L., Prado R. M., Tenesaca L. F. L., Da Silva J. L. F., Mattiuz B.-H. (2021). Silicon attenuates calcium deficiency by increasing ascorbic acid content, growth and quality of cabbage leaves. Sci. Rep. 11, 1770. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80934-6
Sousa Junior G. S., Calero Hurtado A., De Souza Junior J. P., Prado R. M., Santos D. M. M. (2022). Nutritional and structural role of silicon in attenuating aluminum toxicity in sugarcane plants. Silicon 14, 5041–5022. doi: 10.1007/s12633-021-01294-y
Teixeira G. C. M., Prado R. M., Oliveira K. S., Buchelt A. C., Rocha A. M. S., Santos M. S. (2021). Nutritional deficiency in scarlet eggplant limits its growth by modifying the absorption and use efficiency of macronutrients. PloS One 16, e0252866. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252866
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Keywords: silicon (Si), crop resilience, sustainable agriculture, abiotic stress, soil-plant interactions
Citation: Prado RdM, Verma KK and Etesami H (2024) Editorial: New advances of silicon in the soil-plant system. Front. Agron. 6:1535125. doi: 10.3389/fagro.2024.1535125
Received: 26 November 2024; Accepted: 11 December 2024;
Published: 17 December 2024.
Edited and Reviewed by:
Davey Jones, Bangor University, United KingdomCopyright © 2024 Prado, Verma and Etesami. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Renato de Mello Prado, cm1wcmFkb0BmY2F2LnVuZXNwLmJy