Silicon Fertilization for Carbon Sequestration Through PhytOC Production in Plants

The rising CO2 content in the atmosphere is the major cause of the greenhouse gas effect. Biological carbon capture and storage is a useful strategy for decreasing CO2 levels in terrestrial ecosystems. The capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to store carbon is enormous, which is essential to the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation. It is achieved by sequestering the carbon in plant phytolith. Silicon, which is resistant to both weathering and decomposition, is found in phytolith. Plant phytoliths provide long-term carbon stabilization through carbon sequestration. External silicon fertilizer application will enhance phytolith content in plants. Compared to monocots, dicots absorb less amount of silicon. Carbon occluded in phytoliths can remain stable and undecomposed over a long period. Long-term carbon storage in terrestrial carbon sinks such as plants and trees are the most effective way to overcome climate change challenges. Fixed carbon-produced biomass reaches the soil carbon reservoir and is stored there for millennia. Implementing carbon sequestration techniques can significantly sulk down the increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. This review paper focuses on the role of silicon fertilizer in terrestrial carbon sequestration, agriculture crops in particular.