Benefits of using silicon as a nutrient in sustainable strawberry production

Summary

This study demonstrates that weekly fertigation application of bioavailable silicon nutrient (0.017% v/v) to commercial strawberries reduces severity of powdery mildew and spider mite infestations and delays epidemic development by approximately 14 days, whilst promoting growth parameters including leaf and fruit number, chlorophyll content, and fruit quality. Silicon primarily deposits in the leaf cuticle and epidermal layers, enhancing passive defence pathways. The findings suggest silicon could reduce pesticide dependency in UK strawberry production, though silicon is not a plant nutrient essential for strawberry growth.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted on a commercial UK strawberry farm and is directly applicable to United Kingdom strawberry production systems. The findings align with the UK producing 80% of domestic strawberry supply and provide evidence for a non-pesticide pest and disease management strategy relevant to UK growers seeking sustainable intensification.

Key measures

Disease severity (P. aphanis and T. urticae), epidemic build-up delay (days), leaf number, fruit number, chlorophyll content, Brix levels, plant biomass, silicon deposition location in leaf tissues

Outcomes reported

The study measured the effects of bioavailable silicon nutrient application on strawberry susceptibility to powdery mildew and spider mite, and on plant growth parameters including leaf number, fruit yield, chlorophyll content, and fruit quality (Brix). Field and glasshouse experiments assessed both efficacy and dose-response relationships.

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