“Although silicon (Si) is one of the most abundant elements found in the earth’s crust, it is mostly inert, and only slightly soluble and available to plants. With the exception of potassium, sugarcane is known to take up more Si than any other mineral nutrient, with the potential to accumulate up to 400 kg.ha-1 of Si, in a 12-month old irrigated crop.” This opening paragraph from Meyer and Keeping (2000) highlights the relevance of silica in the cane sugar industry. Four years later Lionnet and Walthew (2004) reviewed its impact during processing. D’Hotman (1947) was probably the first to show… Login to continue

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