EN
Silicon is present in plants in the amounts equivalent to those of macronutrient elements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen etc.. Higher plants differ in their capacity of silicon uptake. Its content in plants (as SiO₂) varies from 0,1 to 15,0% dry matter. Silicon is the element protecting against insects and pathogens, against toxicity of Mn, Fe, Al and other metals (also heavy metals) and salinity of the soils. Most sensitive plants to silicon are: field horsetail, rice, sugarcane and some cereal species. Those plants strongly respond to silicon supply. Lack of the silicon reduces drastically crop yields, even by 50%.