Silicon Boosts Nodule Number Root Growth Under Simulated Climate Stress

Benefits from Below: Silicon Supplementation Maintains Legume Productivity under Predicted Climate Change Scenarios

 

Legumes crops have not received their fair share of silicon research. This is a convincing study showing the strong potential for silicon to dramatically increase plant growth under elevated temperature and CO2 levels in a legume plant. Specifically, increased root nodulation occurred, allowing for more nitrogen to be available to the plant for growth. The authors conclude that silicon is an important nutrient to mitigate the effects of climate change by increasing nodulation under temperature and increased CO2 concentrations.