D3385: Role of silicon soil amendments to insect pest complexes

Insect pests pose significant limitations to achieving high crop yields. Different approaches have been developed to protect crops from these herbivores. While chemical control offers efficient and rapid insect pest control, their misuse can pose risks to human health, harm natural enemies or beneficial arthropods, and contribute to insect pest resistance. Silicon, an abundant element in soil, plays a vital role in enhancing crop health. However, only the water-soluble form of silicon (H2SO4) is accessible to plants. Although, silicon is not classified as an essential element, the International Plant Institute in Georgia, USA recognizes it as a beneficial substance. Silicon soil amendment can benefit plants by enhancing their physical and biochemical defenses. The deposition of silicon in the leaves increases the roughness, number of spines, and presence of hair thereby decreasing insect feeding injury. Silicon also acts as a physical barrier, impending the feeding efficiency of insect pests and preventing access to nitrogen and other vital metabolites within the plant. Silicon can also reduce development, longevity, and fecundity of the insects. In addition, silicon-mediated resistance enhances the release of plant volatiles that attract natural enemies of insect pests. Despite the potential of silicon amendment for insect pest management, it did not receive substantial attention from stakeholders. It is important to address this lack of attention and encourage further research.