Effect of Different Forms of Silicon on Growth of Spring Wheat Cultivated in Organic Farming System

Abstract

Application of silicon (Si) could greatly boost wheat growth and yield by mitigating abiotic stress, especially drought. Aim The objective of this study was to determine the effect of silicon products in different forms and methods of its application on growth and yield of spring wheat cultivated under organic farming regime. Methods A field experiment was conducted in the period of 2017-2018 on a research farm. The impact of different methods of application of powder and liquid forms of Si products to soil, leaves and combined methods of application (to soil and leaves) on growth parameters and yielding of spring wheat was evaluated. The treatments consisted of the recommended doses of two Si products-Adesil and ZumSil at 10 kg and 0.3 l/ha, respectively. The effect of silicon was assessed by measuring emergence and height of plants, number and weight of ears, as well as the SPAD index and yield. Results The number of plants emergence (316-321 seedlings per 1 m 2), the number of spikes and the height of plants were the highest after application of the liquid form of silicon, regardless of the method of application. The yield was statistically higher after the combined and foliar applications of liquid form of silicon (4.97 and 4.84 t/ha, respectively). The powder silicon form was similar effective when was used as the combined application (to soil and leaves) (5.35 t/ ha). Conclusions Si stimulates growth of wheat enhancing number of ears and plant height, increases yields of organically grown spring wheat, a liquid Si formulation (solution of monosilicic acid) is more effective than a powder Si formulation (diatomaceous earth). Soil and foliar Si application is more effective than soil or foliar application.

Silicon Use in the Integrated Disease Management of Wheat: Current Knowledge

“…In Poland, a two-year field experiment evaluated different methods of application of powder (diatomaceous earth) and liquid (solution of monosilicic acid) forms of Si to soil, leaves and combined methods of application (to soil and leaves) on growth parameters and yielding [61]. Authors observed that the most efficient form of Si was a liquid formulation, while powder was less effective and only in combined application achieved similar effects such as liquid Si, increasing the number of seedling emergence, the height of plants and density of spikes and yield.…”

“…Authors observed that the most efficient form of Si was a liquid formulation, while powder was less effective and only in combined application achieved similar effects such as liquid Si, increasing the number of seedling emergence, the height of plants and density of spikes and yield. Furthermore, according authors, soil and foliar Si application is more effective than soil or foliar application [61]. In Germany, an experiment performed in substrate showed that Si applied in the form of an engineered nanomaterial (amorphous pyrogenic hydrophilic SiO 2 ) was readily taken up by the wheat plants increasing the aboveground biomass production at low (1 g SiO 2 pot −1 ) to medium (10 g SiO 2 pot −1 ) supply levels of Si; and grain yield at medium Si supply, probably due to increased plant phosphorus availability and nutrition [34].…”

Agro-industrial-residues as potting media: physicochemical and biological characters and their influence on plant growth

“…and abiotic (drought, salinity, high or low temperature, UV irradiation, metal toxicity, etc.) stress conditions [ 202 – 204 ].…”

Accumulation of Silicon and Changes in Water Balance under Drought Stress in Brassica napus var. napus L.

“…Nevertheless, Si is considered to be “quasi-essential” [ 30 ] because of its many benefits. Due to the growing interest in the positive effects of silicon on plants, as well as its high effectiveness arising from its application method [ 31 , 32 ], Si preparations acting as plant fertilizers [ 33 ], which effectively improve yield quantity and quality [ 29 ], have started to appear on the market. Currently, research on the role of silicon in plants is conducted on many levels [ 34 ], including in the context of drought [ 15 ].…”