What Does The Research Show About Foliar MSA Applications?

Since 2003 a number of trials in various crops have been carried out to determine the effects of foliar application of Si. Most research uses solutions of 7-45 ppm Si, sprayed 3-4 times starting early in the crop life cycle. The excellent 2018 review paper by Laane and colleagues reports on these effects, summarized below:

• Five studies exploring the effects of on potato growth, yield, and infection rate showed increased disease resistance, yield improvements of up to 40%, and other growth enhancements.

• Four sprays of 30 ppm Si applied to two different onion cultivars grown in clay soil in the Netherlands resulted in yield increases of 9.9% and 10.8% respectively.

• In a Colombian study, four sprays at 30 ppm Si using two different spraying regimes led to increased papaya plant height (6.3% and 7.8%), stem diameter (7.3% and 8.2%), fruit weight (11.9% and 13.2%), superior fruit flavor.

• Three studies on rice demonstrated that MSA sprays led to various growth and yield improvements, including increased grain size and quantity, shorter crop cycles, and enhanced nutrient uptake, with yield increases up to 32%. Additionally, the studies found that MSA application reduced infection rates, such as a 70% reduction in one study, and allowed for decreased pesticide usage while maintaining high yields.

Rice plants grown on very acidic soil on a plot of 1.5 ha near Chennai (India), 2017. Half of the plot was sprayed with PEG-sSA. The visual differences between sprayed plants (left) and the control (right) can be seen.

• A study on strawberries found that three sprays with 7 and 14 ppm Si significantly improved growth parameters, including root length, root mass weight, diameter of root neck, and leaf blade area, across all tested soil types.

• Two studies on grapes found that MSA sprays at various concentrations led to significant improvements in growth parameters, yield, and quality, with one study reporting a maximum yield increase of 39%. The treatments positively influenced factors such as nutrient uptake, total soluble solids, acidity, total sugar, and reduced the percentage of rotten berries, while another study observed increased berry length, diameter, bunch weight, and overall quality.

• A study on ten different finger millet varieties found that two sprays of 15 and 30 ppm Si significantly increased grain and straw yield, with the greatest increase at the 4 mL/L rate, and improved Si uptake by 54.6% over the control. Additionally, the MSA sprays reduced blast disease by 50.469.8% across the different genotypes.

• MSA sprays led to various improvements in sugarcane growth, yield, and quality in three studies. One study found a 26% yield increase with foliar MSA sprays, and the combination of soil and leaf application provided a 33% yield increase. Another study demonstrated that MSA sprays significantly decreased mite populations and leaf dryness.

• A study on seasonal ornamental plants found that three sprays with 15 and 22 ppm Si from MSA led to increased growth and quality. The number of lateral shoots, buds, and flowers or inflorescences increased in all ornamental plant varieties, with flower diameter also dependent on the concentration of the spray.

• MSA sprays improved growth, yield, and quality in white oat and wheat. In wheat, the sprays increased nutrient concentrations, shoot dry matter, and resulted in a 26.9% grain yield increase. MSA sprays also showed efficacy in alleviating drought stress, increasing relative water content, and improving growth and quality parameters.

The effects of foliar application of PEG-sSA on wheat grown in very saline soil (area of 3 ha) in Romania during 2014. Half of the plot was sprayed four times with AB Yellow® (=4 mL/L PEG-sSA plus B, Mo and Zn). The visual differences between the sprayed plants (taller plants) and the control (small plants) can be seen.

• MSA sprays improved growth, yield, and quality in soybean, common bean, and peanut. Four sprays of 15 ppm Si from MSA increased seed yields by 14% for soybean, 15% for common bean, and 9.6% for peanuts. In soybean, three sprays were the most effective foliar application, increasing plant height, leaves, pod and seed yield, as well as protein and oil yield.

• MSA sprays improved growth, yield, quality, and infection rates in tomato plants. Three sprays of 30 ppm Si led to taller transplants with larger stem diameters and increased nutrient concentrations. MSA sprays of 15 and 30 ppm Si reduced powdery mildew disease by 26% and 56%, respectively, with the latter sprays being more effective than the standard fungicide.

• A study on maize found that MSA sprays at concentrations of 7, 15, and 22 ppm Si applied at 20-day intervals, along with the application of silicon granules, improved growth and yield parameters in both sandy loam and clay loam soils. The highest yield resulted from the combination of the foliar MSA application at 22 ppm Si with the soil application of silicon granules.

• A study on mango trees compared the efficacy of four 4 30 ppm Si from MSA sprays applied at three-week intervals with other silicon treatments and a control. All soil and foliar silicon applications enhanced growth and yield, but the MSA foliar sprays were more effective in terms of yield increase, total soluble solids (TSS), and shelf life. The shelf life of the fruits from MSA treated trees increased by five days compared to other silicon-containing product applications.

• A study on mandarin plants evaluated the efficacy of one, two, and three MSA sprays at concentrations of 7, 15, and 30 ppm Si applied at 30-day intervals during the pea stage and ripening stages. Sprays with 15 ppm at the pea stage enhanced nutrient status, increased fruit size by 25%, and improved juice volume during the ripening stage, particularly with 30 ppm sprays. The treatments increased biogenic silicon layers in the rind, sugar content in the juice, nutrient ionic status, and fruit shelf life.

Conclusion

Stabilized silica products are a game changer in horticulture, offering numerous benefits to plant growth and protection. By understanding the importance of stabilizing monosilicic acid and the methods used to achieve this, growers can make informed decisions when selecting silica products for their horticultural operations. With the right stabilized silica product, such as the polyolstabilized Front Row Si, growers can enjoy higher growth rates, yields, and improved plant health.

Getting the benefits of MSA with Front Row Si is easy: In practice, 3 - 5 foliar applications with 1-2 ml/gal over the first 5 weeks of a plants life ensures the crop is receiving the benefits on growth rate, yield, disease resistance, and quality.

References

Laane H. M. (2018). The Effects of Foliar Sprays with Different Silicon Compounds Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 7(2), 45. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants7020045