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Silicon (Si) plays an important role in crop yields and is known as a beneficial element for gramineous plants. Si sources used as fertilizers in Brazil are mainly industrial by-products and naturally occurring silica-rich minerals, such as calcium silicates. There is still relatively little information about Si fertilization in the country, especially in the potential of diatomaceous Earth (DE) as a Si fertilizer compared to other widely used sources. In this context, we aimed at assessing the efficiency of a DE-based fertilizer as Si supplier to plants of sugarcane and maize grown on two soil types. We used a calcium silicate source widely used in Brazil for comparison as a positive control. Results showed that the DE fertilizer application provided linear increase in the biomass of sugarcane and maize in the tested soils. The improvement in crop biomass correlated well with the Si accumulation in the shoots of the plants. Besides, DE fertilizer improved crop performance by increased N, P, K, and S concentrations in plants. When compared to the calcium silicate source, the DE fertilizer provided the same Si supplying potential for the tested plants and higher relative biomass yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]