THE STIMULATING EFFECTS OF SILICATES ON PLANT YIELDS IN RELATION TO ANION DISPLACEMENT

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Abstract
Adsorbed phosphate ions were displaced from a Colts Neck loam by hydroxyl, silicate, silicate at pH 7, and sulfate ions. The pH of the displacing anion solns. governed, largely, the displacement. The anions were classified into 2 groups with reference to the mobilization of phosphates. The anions of group one (hydroxyl and silicate) yielded large mobilization of P2O5 (80-100% of the total adsorbed) and high pH''s; the anions of group 2 (silicate at pH 7 and sulfate) yielded inferior mobilization (5-21% of the total adsorbed) of P3O5 and pH values between 6 and 7. Yields of soybeans, rape, barley, and sudan grass from pot expts. with and without phosphates and silicates are discussed from the viewpoint of anion displacement. Silicate additions stimulated the yields of barley and sudan grass. No relation existed between the yields from the silicated section and available phosphates in these soils. Increased absorption of SiO2, P2O5 were noted in the plants grown on the silicated soils.