Abstract
SUMMARYA study was conducted, including 17 oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) crops distributed throughout Colombia, to determine how much silicon (Si) this plant species accumulates in their leaves, and also to determine the available Si levels in the soils. The study was conceived as a preliminary step of a research project aimed at determining whether the beneficial effects of Si, which have been identified for other species also, occur in the oil palm crop. Available Si varied among soils; lower levels were found in the soils with characteristics associated with greater weathering as compared with less weathered soils. Relatively high leaf Si levels were found in all of the sites studied and this was interpreted as an indication that oil palm could be considered a Si accumulator. An increase in Si concentration with leaf age was found, indicating that this element probably behaves as a non-mobile element in the plant. A defined relationship between soil available Si and Si concentration in the leaves was not found, however. The results indicate that it is worthwhile conducting specific studies to determine the effects of Si on oil palm growth and behaviour, and provide useful criteria for the design of future studies.
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