Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Suche
Breadcrumb Navigation

Field trial shows: Less greenhouse gases from fields with silicon

Hauptinhalt der Seite

​​​​​​​04.02.2025

Press Release


PlanSmart Team

Nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas up to 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2), is emitted in large quantities by agriculture. In a field trial near Müncheberg, Germany, ZALF researchers have shown that a single application of amorphous silicate ensures that nitrogen fertilizers are absorbed more efficiently by the plants. This reduces nitrous oxide emissions by more than 30%. This is a promising approach for more sustainable agriculture. The results have been published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.

The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced in soil mainly by microorganisms that, under certain conditions, convert excess nitrogen into nitrous oxide. "We already know that amorphous silicate increases the availability of water and nutrients in the soil. In addition, plants can absorb more nitrogen due to improved growth. This leaves less excess nitrogen for the microorganisms that produce nitrous oxide," explains Prof. Jörg Schaller, head of the Silicon Biogeochemistry working group at ZALF.

Amorphous silica is accumulated by plants and enables soils to retain very large amounts of water. This makes it very different from other silicon compounds, which are mainly found in soils in the form of sand or rock. In agricultural soils, amorphous silica is often low because it is stored by plants and removed from the field with the harvest. Over decades of agricultural management, the amount of amorphous silica in the soil decreases. The current study shows that this decrease in amorphous silica could also affect nitrous oxide emissions.

The field experiment was conducted as follows

In 2020, the researchers applied a single dose of amorphous silicate to a test plot near Müncheberg in Brandenburg, Germany, to restore natural stocks to pre-agricultural levels. Control plots without this fertilization served as a comparison. "To measure nitrous oxide emissions from the fields, we used specially designed chambers. This allowed us to accurately record the emissions spatially and to analyze how the treated and untreated plots differ," explains Dr. Mathias Hoffmann from the Isotope Biogeochemistry & Gas Fluxes working group at ZALF and first author of the study. In addition, the researchers analyzed soil moisture, temperature and nutrient levels in the experimental plots and investigated the effect of amorphous silicate on soil and plant development.

They found other positive aspects of amorphous silicate fertilization that they have already described in various publications:

  • Improved nutrient availability: the important plant nutrient phosphorus is bound less tight to soil particles in soils with amorphous silicate and is therefore more available to plants. News-Link​
  • Optimized water storage: Amorphous silica binds water molecules and ensures that water remains available when the soil dries. News-Link​​​
  • Higher yields: Wheat crops showed significant yield increases after fertilization with amorphous silica. News-Link
  • Stronger soil microbiome: Researchers found more beneficial microorganisms in the soil that perform important ecosystem functions after fertilization with amorphous silicate. News-Link
  • Fewer pests: Plants with higher levels of silicon were more resistant to fungal and insect attack. ​News-Link

What is needed to expand the use of amorphous silica?

More long-term studies are needed to investigate the effect of amorphous silica on different soils, crops and climates. Other research institutions are currently investigating the effects of amorphous silicate. The publication of the results is in preparation. Further trials are needed to develop recommendations for agriculture. Marketable products also need to be developed. "In recent years, our research has shown that amorphous silica has the potential to make soils more resilient and promote plant growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It could be an important building block for more sustainable agriculture in the future," concludes Jörg Schaller.

Project partners:

  • Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)
  • University of Gießen, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management

Funding reference:
This research was funded by the Leibniz Association as part of the "Leibniz Cooperative Excellence" program (K378/2021).

Further information:

Link to original publication: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1522700/full

Text disclaimer:

This summary was created with the help of artificial intelligence based on the original publication: Hoffmann M, Diaz ORM, Zentgraf I, Al-Hamwi W, Dubbert M, Stein M, Holz M and Schaller J (2025) Amorphous silica reduces N2O emissions from arable land at the field plot scale. Front. Environ. Sci. 13:1522700. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1522700 Published Open Access under the CC BY 4.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The text was carefully reviewed and edited in accordance with ZALF's AI regulations.



 

Picture

Download

 Amorphes Silikat
Amorphous silicate has the ability to absorb large amounts of water. In the soil, it improves the availability of water and nutrients for plant roots. Source: © Hendrik Schneider/ ZALF | Image source in color and print quality: http://www.zalf.de/de/aktuelles
Fusszeile der Seite
Wordpress icon
Instagram icon
YouTube icon
ResearchGate icon
Mastodon icon
Bluesky icon
LinkedIn icon
© Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V. Müncheberg

Funded by:

BMEL logo
MWFK logo