Summary
Silicon in soil solutions is present entirely as monosilicic acid and soils are capable of maintaining a steady concentration in solution despite repeated withdrawals. This concentration is always below the saturation figure of 120 ppm SiO2 and varies amongst soils of the same pH.
Both ferric and aluminium oxides adsorb monosilicic acid but among oxides of similar crystallinity, aluminium oxide is more effective than ferric oxide. When added to a soil, both ferric and aluminium oxides lowered the concentration of monosilicic acid in solution. Aluminium oxide again had the greater effect and one sample lowered the concentration of monosilicic acid from 48 to 9 ppm SiO2.
In pot experiments oats were grown in a soil to which ferric and aluminium oxides had been added and also in soils differing naturally in their content of free sesquioxides. The uptake of silica by the plants can be explained simply in terms of the concentration of silica in the soil solution and the amount of water transpired. This indicates that oats take up silica passively in the transpiration stream.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, G. B., The reaction of low molecular weight silicic acids with molybdic acid. J. Am. Chem. Soc.75 5655–5657 (1953).
Alexander, G. B., Heston, W. M., and Iler, R. K., The solubility of amorphous silica in water. J. Phys. Chem.58 453–455 (1954).
Aguilera, N. H., and Jackson, M. L., Iron oxide removal from soils and clays. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.17 359–364 (1953).
Baker, G., Jones, L. H. P., and Wardrop, I. D., Opal phytoliths and mineral particles in the rumen of the sheep. Australian J. Agr. Research12 462–472 (1961).
Beckwith, R. S., and Reeve, R., Studies on soluble silica in soils I. The sorption of silicic acid by soils and minerals. Australian J. Soil Research1 157–168 (1963).
Grosse-Brauckmann, E., Über die Keselsäureaufnahme von Pflanzen nach Düngung mit kohlensauren Kalk. Z. Pflanzen ernahr. Düng.62 19–23 (1953).
Iler, R. K., The Colloid Chemistry of Silica and Silicates (Cornell University Press, 1955).
Imaizumi, K., and Yoshida, S., Edaphological studies on silicon supplying power of paddy fields. Bull. Nat. Inst. Agric. Sci. (Japan) B8, 261–304 (1958).
Jephcott, C. M., and Johnston, J. H., Solubility of silica and alumina. Arch. Indust. Hyg. Occupational Med.1 323–340 (1950).
Jones, L. H. P., and Handreck, K. A., Effects of iron and aluminium oxides on silica in solution in soils. Nature198 852–853 (1963).
Jones, L. H. P., and Handreck, K. A., Unpublished work (1963).
Jones, L. H. P., and Milne, A. A., Studies of silica in the oat plant I. Chemical and physical properties of the silica. Plant and Soil18 207–220 (1963).
Jones, L. H. P., Milne, A. A., and Wadham, S. M., Studies of silica in the oat plant II. Distribution of the silica in the plant. Plant and Soil18 358–371 (1963).
King, E. J., Stacy, B. D., Holt, P. F., Yates, D. M., and Pickles, D., The colorimetric determination of silicon in the micro-analysis of biological material and mineral dusts. Analyst80 441–453 (1955).
Krauskopf, K. B.,in Silica in Sediments, edit. by Ireland, H. A., 4 (Special Publ.7, Soc. Econ. Paleont. Miner., Oklahoma, 1959).
Lewin, J. C., The dissolution of silica from diatom walls. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta21 182–198 (1961).
McKeague, J. A., and Cline, M. G., Silica in soil solutions I. The form and concentration of dissolved silica in aqueous extracts of some soils. Can. J. Soil Sci.43 70–82 (1963).
McKeague, J. A., and Cline, M. G., Silica in soil solutions II. The adsorption of monosilicic acid by soil and by other substances. Can. J. Soil Sci.43, 83–96 (1963).
McKeague, J. A., and Cline, M. G., Silica in soils. Advances in Agron.15, 339–396 (1963).
Okamoto, G., Okura, T., and Goto, K., Properties of silica in water. Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta12, 123–132 (1957).
Piper, C. S., Soil and Plant Analysis. The University of Adelaide (1944) and Interscience Publishers Inc., New York (1950).
Richards, L. A., A pressure-membrane extraction apparatus for soil solution. Soil Sci.51, 377–386 (1941).
Richardson, A. E. V., Trumble, H. C., and Shapter, R. E., Factors affecting the mineral content of pastures. C.S.I.R. Australia Bull. No.49 (1931).
Russell, E. W., Soil Conditions and Plant Growth. 9th Ed. (Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd., London, 1961).
Schuylenborgh, J. van, The electrokinetic behaviour of freshly prepared γ- AIOOH, α- and γ- Al(OH)3. Rec. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas70, 985–988 (1951).
Strickland, J. D. H., The preparation and properties of silicomolybdic acid III. The combination of silicate and molybdate. J. Am. Chem. Soc.74, 872–876 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jones, L.H.P., Handreck, K.A. Studies of silica in the oat plant. Plant Soil 23, 79–96 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01349120
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01349120