<p>Global agricultural productivity is severely threatened by the rising incidence and frequency of various abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, and heavy metals. These stresses, disrupt cellular processes, inhibiting water and nutrient uptake and affecting metabolic pathways necessary for seed germination and growth. Silicon (Si), a beneficial element for plants, has emerged as a promising factor in enhancing seedling emergence and vigour under such adverse conditions. Recent advances and research in silicon reveal its importance for seed germination and seedling vigour in different crops. Various forms of silicon (Si), such as silicon dioxide (SiO₂), potassium/calcium silicate, sodium metasilicate (Na₂SiO₃), and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), are applied through seed treatment to enhance germination and seedling performance. This review examines the role of silicon in improving seed germination and seedling performance under abiotic stresses and focusing on its impacts on physiological and molecular aspects contributing to climate-resilient agriculture. Seed treatment with silicon has shown promising effects on various crops, including cereals, legumes, and vegetables, under different abiotic stress conditions and could be an effective tool in alleviating the impacts of stresses by improving seedling survival and growth. The findings suggest that integrating silicon in agriculture through seeds could play a crucial role in sustaining productivity and thus ensuring food security in a climate-unpredictable condition.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>