Silica

Beneficial Information on Silica

MECHANISM OF SILICA

Fertilisers that are high in soluble silica and that silica is in the form of a Monosilica acids, such as Madura Guano Gold-Kwik Start® and Madura Guano Sulphur Gold®, react in the soil solution to release Si(OH) 4, which is then absorbed onto either existing free iron, calcium or aluminium, or into existing insoluble Phosphorus compounds such as Calcium (caHPo4), Aluminium (2Al (H2Po4) and Iron (2FePo4).

This has the effect of;

Transforming slightly soluble Phosphates into mobile forms that are more plant available.
The binding of elements that are hostile to phosphorus allowing free phosphorus to be plant available for longer.

ALL FACTS SUGGEST that Si-rich materials can be used for reducing - “P” - “TIE UP” and keep applied PHOSPHORUS in plant available form.

CaHPo4 + Si (OH) 4 = CaSio3 + H2O + H3 Po4
Calcium / Phosphate + Silica Acid = Calcium Silicate + water + Phosphate

2Al (H2Po4) 3 + Si (OH) 4 + H = Al2Si2O5 + SH3PO4 + 3H2O
Aluminium Phosphate + Silica Acid + Hydrogen = Aluminium Silicate + Phosphate + Water

2FEPo4 + Si (OH4) + H = FeSiO4 + 2(H3PO4)
Iron Phosphate + Silica Acid + Hydrogen = Iron Silicate + Phosphate

SILICA & K

Silicon Fertilisers exhibit very good absorption properties; owing to this, leaching of Potassium from the surface horizon was reduced by application of Silicon. Therefore, Madura Guano Gold-Kwik Start blended with either MOP or SOP or KMS will allow for maximum availability of both P and K in the soils that are high in Fe, Al or Ca. The interaction of Silica allows the blend to work in both acid and slightly alkaline soils.

To read the relevant articles simply click on the links below:

A brief independant examination of the composition of Madura Guano Gold® and its action in the soil.

Why Madura Guano Gold-Kwik Start® and its important Silicon component work so well.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

Being so far away from our markets, durability is critical and the Silica is really good in terms of hardening up the skin and making the melons better to transport.Ord River WA irrigator David Menzel-Barradale

The problem with many organic fertilisers is that they have very low rates of nutrients, meaning you need to put out high rates. A product like Guano Gold has 12pc P, whereas Guano Sulphur Gold has 10.5pc P, obviously with additional sulphur. These figures compare very favourably with something like a single superphosphate product. Agronomically, it’s a good product in any setting, not just for organic producers.Garry Allison, Landmark Agronomist. Mount Gambier, SA

For the broadacre croppers, Guano Gold works really well in paddocks where they have had issues with nutrient tie-up. He said the majority of synthetic P products have large rates of water soluble P. The problem with that is that you can have instances where it ends up tying up zinc in the soil so you run into problems with zinc deficiencies. Not only does the slow release nature of the Guano Gold product work well over the entire season, it also contains zinc for the crop as well as the other nutrients.Moree agronomist Rob Drewitt

We strongly recommend the Guano Gold products to fellow farmers if they are looking at improving their Calcium and Silica levels using various methods of application such as foliar and granular.James and Aimee Thomas Falkirk Macadamia Farm

I have recommended Guano Gold products for 20 years and in all cases had excellent long-term results increasing in pasture productivity.Paul Baguely - PB Ag Consulting

They are high analysis products so you get your nutrients without having to put too much fertiliser out.Anthony Beutel, Googa Farm Organics

We have known since the 1930s that phosphorus is one of the main elements required to grow a successful crop of not just the (flax) plant but the seed. It was one of those products that was first out in a granular type form and it was so much easier to get an even coverage over the ground, rather than a powder form. Later on the product became a little more refined, so we could put it through our air-seeder. We also broadcast some of it, prior to seeding, when we are cultivating ground. The products have great characteristics in relation to phosphate and silica, which is exactly what we need for flax.Waltanna Farms flax-seed farmer & Ambassador for Guano Australia, Michael Nagorcka

Silica

Beneficial Information on Silica

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WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY