TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schaller, Jörg
A1  - Puppe, Daniel
A1  - Kaczorek, Danuta
A1  - Ellerbrock, Ruth
A1  - Sommer, Michael
T1  - Silicon cycling in soils revisited
JF  - Plants : open access journal
N2  - Silicon (Si) speciation and availability in soils is highly important for ecosystem functioning, because Si is a beneficial element for plant growth. Si chemistry is highly complex compared to other elements in soils, because Si reaction rates are relatively slow and dependent on Si species. Consequently, we review the occurrence of different Si species in soil solution and their changes by polymerization, depolymerization, and condensation in relation to important soil processes. We show that an argumentation based on thermodynamic endmembers of Si dependent processes, as currently done, is often difficult, because some reactions such as mineral crystallization require months to years (sometimes even centuries or millennia). Furthermore, we give an overview of Si reactions in soil solution and the predominance of certain solid compounds, which is a neglected but important parameter controlling the availability, reactivity, and function of Si in soils. We further discuss the drivers of soil Si cycling and how humans interfere with these processes. The soil Si cycle is of major importance for ecosystem functioning; therefore, a deeper understanding of drivers of Si cycling (e.g., predominant speciation), human disturbances and the implication for important soil properties (water storage, nutrient availability, and micro aggregate stability) is of fundamental relevance.
KW  - andosols
KW  - clay neoformation
KW  - crop yield
KW  - land use change
KW  - micro
KW  - aggregate stability
KW  - phytoliths
KW  - sediments
KW  - silicon cycling
KW  - silicon
KW  - extraction methods
KW  - silicon pore water speciation
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020295
SN  - 2223-7747
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -