Abstract
Balanced mineral nutrition is essential to grow wheat successfully. Silicon (which helps to form silicate minerals) is the second most plentiful element on Earth, but its effect on plant growth and development is somewhat unclear. In 2016 and 2017, a University of Idaho team took a closer look by examining its effect on wheat plant growth and grain production in southern Idaho. This publication details and discusses the somewhat surprising results (which contradict many other studies) and what future tests are merited.