A soil supplement containing plant available silicon

摘要

A soil supplement contains amorphous silica which reacts with water to form a mono silicic acid which can be absorbed by plants. The supplement contains a much higher level of plant available silicon compared with conventional soil supplements. The supplement can be produced by reacting a metal silicate (for instance a crushed dunite or rock) with an acid (for instance sulphuric acid) in a substantially solid state reaction to promote acidolysis as opposed to hydrolysis. The supplement can be further processed by reaction with an alkali (crushed limestone) in a substantially solid state reaction to provide a higher level of mono silicic acid in the supplement. The supplement promotes plant growth in sugar cane, rice, pasture and other plants that require mono silicic acid.