Climate-resilient maize cultivation: enhancing phytolith-mediated carbon storage through silicon fertilizationVeeraswamy Davamani, Muthukutty Suji, Priyadharshini Murugan, Gopalakrishnan Myleswami, Selvakumar Thambiyannan, Paul Sebastian Selvaraj, Gunasekaran Yazhini, and Subramanian Arulmani Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
E-mail: arulmaniyes@gmail.com Received: 11 December 2025 Accepted: 9 January 2026 Abstract: Rising atmospheric CO2 levels pose a significant concern, and current research focuses on enhancing CO2 assimilation through silicon fertilization in maize. This approach offers dual advantages: it functions as both an effective carbon sink and a catalyst for increased crop yields. Phytolith extraction was performed using microwave digestion, and the occluded carbon within the phytoliths was subsequently measured using the alkali spectrophotometric method. The highest phytolith (230.8 kg ha−1) and PhytOC content (32.1 g kg−1) were achieved with 100% silicon application combined with STCR-based NPK fertilization. In contrast, the lowest levels, 154.3 kg ha−1 and 30.5 g kg−1, respectively, were recorded in the control treatment (TSTCR). Ultimately, silicon fertilization resulted in a 49.6% increase in phytolith production and a 5.95% increase in carbon content within phytoliths. Grain yield increased by 21.7% with the TSTCR+100%Si treatment compared to the control treatment TSTCR. The study also found a positive correlation between silica phytolith and PhytOC content, enhancing maize’s carbon sequestration potential over time. Graphical abstract Keywords: Silicon fertilization; Phytolith; PhytOC; Maize yield; Carbon sequestration; Climate-smart agriculture Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com. DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04669-w
Chemical Papers 80 (4) 4025–4038 (2026) |
Friday, May 15, 2026 
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