Soil application of silicon enhances initial growth and nitrogen use efficiency of Arabica coffee plants

Parecido, Renan José; Soratto, Rogério Peres; Guidorizzi, Fernando Vieira Costa; Perdoná, Marcos José; Gitari, Harun I.

doi:10.1080/01904167.2021.2006707

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In contrast, shade‐tolerant tropical forest species are slow‐growing and their performance is strongly limited by multiple environmental factors, including light and nutrients (Rüger et al 2009, Vitousek et al 2010, Wright 2019). Studies have demonstrated positive effects of Si fertilization on the growth of cultivated tropical tree species, specifically cacao Theobroma (Gómez‐Vera et al 2021) and coffee Coffea (Parecido et al 2022). Yet, to our knowledge, we are the first to show positive growth responses to plant‐available Si in tropical tree species not used for agriculture ( Herrania and Dendropanax ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since plant‐available P was not increased in our study, the growth enhancements we observed must have been due to modulation of physiological mechanisms along the soil Si gradient. Many studies, including those on cacao and coffee, reported that Si increased photosynthesis (Cooke and Leishman 2016, Gómez‐Vera et al 2021) and nutrient use efficiency (Neu et al 2017, Gómez‐Vera et al 2021, Parecido et al 2022). We also found that higher growth was coupled with increased foliar C:N (weak evidence for Herrania and Dendropanax ) or C:P ratios ( Theobroma ), suggesting improved nutrient‐use efficiency with higher plant‐available and/or foliar Si.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Up to now, most experimental studies on how plant‐available Si influences growth and foliar nutrient status focussed on single species, mostly grasses and/or agricultural species (e.g. for tropical species: Theobroma , Gómez‐Vera et al 2021, Coffea , Parecido et al 2022, Oryza , de Tombeur et al 2021). Yet, to understand Si's ecological role in species‐rich tropical forests, the growth and foliar nutrient responses must be compared across species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of plant‐available soil silicon on seedling growth and foliar nutrient status across tropical tree species

Klotz

Schaller

Engelbrecht

2023

Oikos

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Plant‐available silicon (Si) concentrations vary considerably across tropical soils, yet the ecological importance of that variation remains largely unresolved. Increased Si availability can enhance growth and modulate foliar nutrient status in many crop species suggesting similar effects might occur in natural systems. However, how growth, foliar Si and macronutrient concentrations as well as their stoichiometry respond to plant‐available Si and how these responses differ across tropical tree species is unknown. We experimentally exposed seedlings of 12 tropical tree species to a gradient of plant‐available Si concentrations, representing 85 % of the variation found across central Panama, and assessed responses in aboveground growth and foliar nutrient status. Furthermore, we assessed whether higher plant‐available Si increases P availability. Increasing plant‐available Si led to increased foliar Si concentrations (by up to 140%). It also led to higher aboveground growth (by up to 220%), and it affected foliar C and N concentrations, and nutrient stoichiometry across species. However, at the species‐level only a small subset of two to four species showed significant growth and foliar nutrient responses. At the soil‐level, plant‐available P remained unchanged along the experimental soil Si gradient. Our results showed that Si can improve growth and/or modulate foliar nutrient status in a number of tropical tree species. Furthermore, species' growth and foliar nutrient concentrations might vary differently across tropical forest sites varying in plant‐available Si. Additionally, Si‐induced responses in foliar nutrient stoichiometry have the potential to affect herbivory and litter decomposition. Taken together, natural variation in plant‐available Si might influence plant performance unequally across tropical tree species, and change trophic interactions, with potential implications for ecosystem processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of plant‐available soil silicon on seedling growth and foliar nutrient status across tropical tree species

Klotz

Schaller

Engelbrecht

2023

Oikos

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“…In addition, a greater effect of Si on root growth of a plant under no nutritional stress happens because the greatest benefit of Si in this organ arises from the replacement of C for Si in organic compounds, immobilizing Si in cell walls [ 67 ] with lower energy costs for biosynthesis [ 68 ]. Other authors reported the benefits of Si for root growth in plants without stress [ 69 , 70 ], but these benefits did not reflect on a growth of bean shoots. Thus, our results reinforce the thesis that the greatest benefits of Si occur in plants under stress rather than in plants under no stress [ 71 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silicon, by promoting a homeostatic balance of C:N:P and nutrient use efficiency, attenuates K deficiency, favoring sustainable bean cultivation

et al. 2023

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Background In many regions of the world, K is being depleted from soils due to agricultural intensification a lack of accessibility, and the high cost of K. Thus, there is an urgent need for a sustainable strategy for crops in this environment. Si is an option for mitigating stress due to nutritional deficiency. However, the underlying effects of Si in mitigating K deficiency C:N:P homeostasis still remains unknown for bean plants. This is a species of great worldwide importance. Thus, this study aims to evaluate whether i) K deficiency modifies the homeostatic balance of C, N and P, and, if so, ii) Si supply can reduce damage caused to nutritional stoichiometry, nutrient use efficiency, and production of dry mass in bean plants. Results K deficiency caused a reduction in the stoichiometric ratios C:N, C:P, and P:Si in shoots and C:N, C:P, C:Si, N:Si, and P:Si in roots, resulting in a decrease in K content and use efficiency and reducing biomass production. The application of Si in K-deficient plants modified the ratios C:N, C:Si, N:P, N:Si, and P:Si in shoots and C:N, C:P, C:Si, N:Si, N:P, and P:Si in roots, increasing the K content and efficiency, reducing the loss of biomass. In bean plants with K sufficiency, Si also changed the stoichiometric ratios C:N, C:P, C:Si, N:P, N:Si, and P:Si in shoots and C:N, C:Si, N:Si, and P:Si in roots, increasing K content only in roots and the use efficiency of C and P in shoots and C, N, and P in roots, increasing the biomass production only in roots. Conclusion K deficiency causes damage to the C:N:P homeostatic balance, reducing the efficiency of nutrient use and biomass production. However, Si is a viable alternative to attenuate these nutritional damages, favoring bean growth. The future perspective is that the use of Si in agriculture in underdeveloped economies with restrictions on the use of K will constitute a sustainable strategy to increase food security.

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“…Topdressing is key in ensuring good crop growth and productivity and is majorly done to ensure that the plants receive the required nutrients (Parecido et al, 2021). Hilli et al (2009) in their research on Luffa acutangula reported that the application of NPK fertilizer improved the total number of fruits per vine, and shoot growth was greatly enhanced (Maragal et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder farmers' knowledge on the use of bioslurry as a soil fertility amendment input for potato production in Kenya

et al. 2023

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A survey was conducted on farmers' fields at Werugha and Wusi-Kishamba wards in Taita Taveta County, Kenya, to assess the factors influencing farmers' decisions on the use of bioslurry in the management of soil fertility. Knowledge gaps on bioslurry use provide contrasting claims about the value of bioslurry from source, storage and handling, crop types, soil, and climate conditions, and as a fertilizer. The majority of the farmers in the study sites double up as dairy farmers which has resulted in enormous production of under-utilized cow dung. Over-dependence on the use of inorganic fertilizers leads to the destruction of soil physical and biological properties; hence, the provision of essential nutrients required by plants for growth and development is not achieved at the maximum recommended rates. This results in a yield decrease with potato yield ranging from 8 to 15 t ha À1 , which is 2-to 3-times below the achievable yield of 40 t ha À1 . A survey questionnaire was developed and administered to 120 small-scale farmers within the two wards. Results showed that the use of bioslurry has not been well adopted by farmers from the two wards as only 18% responded to using bioslurry on their farms whereas 78% relied on chemical fertilizers and other forms of manures such as farmyard manure. However, even those using slurry had since been reported to have challenges with its use and application.The 36% of farmers who applied bioslurry alone did so due to its availability considering the high cost of inorganic fertilizers while those who combined it with inorganic fertilizers had faith in chemical fertilizers and that they aimed at achieving high crop yields. The major challenges farmers faced while using slurry on their farms were reported to be on lack of knowledge on the exact quantity to be applied per unit area and on the storage of excess slurry from biodigesters. This implied that even though slurry was available, it was still not useful to the farmers due to under/over application and poor storage. The study, therefore, recommends capacity-building programs and agricultural extension services to be developed, to ensure adequate knowledge on bioslurry use and adoption by smallholder farmers in the management of soil fertility in enhancing crop productivity.

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Soil application of silicon enhances initial growth and nitrogen use efficiency of Arabica coffee plants

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

Effects of plant‐available soil silicon on seedling growth and foliar nutrient status across tropical tree species

Effects of plant‐available soil silicon on seedling growth and foliar nutrient status across tropical tree species

Silicon, by promoting a homeostatic balance of C:N:P and nutrient use efficiency, attenuates K deficiency, favoring sustainable bean cultivation

Smallholder farmers' knowledge on the use of bioslurry as a soil fertility amendment input for potato production in Kenya

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