Synergistic effects of silicon and phosphorus co-application on rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency in saline soil

Abstract

Despite the important role of silicon (Si) for the better utilization of plant nutrients, it is not well understood how the combinations of Si and P (phosphorus) will behave as a co-fertilizer in saline soil for better yield performance and nutrient uptake. Hence, the goal of this study was to identify the effects of different combinations of Si and P applications on the growth, yield, nutrient uptake including nutrient use efficiency of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in saline soil. Combinedly, 3 levels of silicon (Si), i.e., Ca2SiO4: 0, 300 and 600 kg Si ha− 1 and, 4 levels of phosphorus (P), i.e., TSP: 0, 13.2, 26.4, and 39.6 kg P ha− 1 were applied to salt-tolerant rice (Binadhan-8) variety. The results revealed that the significant effect of the Si and P combination improves the growth, and yield parameters (tiller number, filled grain, total grain, grain yield, biological yield, straw yield). We also found a strong positive correlation between the Si and P combination and other essential nutrients (N, P, K and S) implying that the interactive effects of Si and P fertilization improve nutrient uptake and increase nutrient use efficiency. Comparing all results, the combination of 300 kg Si ha− 1 and 26 .4 kg P ha− 1 is potentially optimum to maximize grain yield by 41.66% and straw yield by 55% and N uptake by 216%, P uptake by 193%, K uptake by 263% and S uptake by 130% over control in saline soil.