Abstract
Field studies were established on the alluvial floodplain soils in Louisiana, from 2013 to 2015, to evaluate the effect of silicate slag applications on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum), under sufficient and high nitrogen (N) application rates. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replications consisting of twelve treatments: a factorial combination of two N (101 and 145 kg N ha−1) and five silicate slag rates (0, 1, 2, 4.5, and 9 Mg ha−1), and two control plots (with and without lime). Nitrogen had a greater impact on wheat productivity than silicate slag application. Wheat grain yield reached over 7000 kg ha−1 with applications of 145 kg N, and 9 Mg silicate slag per ha for soil having Si level <20 mg kg−1. Yield increases due to N or Si were attributed to the increase in number of spike m−2 and grain number spike−1. Silicate slag application effectively raised soil pH, and availability of several plant-essential nutrients, including plant-available N (nitrate, NO3−), demonstrating the benefits of slag application are beyond increasing plant-available Si. The benefits of silicate slag application were clearly observed in wheat supplied with high N, and on soil with low plant-available Si.
Highlights
Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide, with global production exceeding that of all other crops [1]
Nitrogen had a significant effect on grain yield at all three site-years, while a Si effect was only observed at Ben Hur (BH) in 2014 (p < 0.05)
Between N and silicate slag, this study demonstrated the stronger influence of silicate slag application on maintaining an elevated level of NO3 − in the soil, as opposed to N application, and improvement in the levels of some plant-essential nutrients and soil pH
Summary
Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide, with global production exceeding that of all other crops [1]. More nourishment has been received from wheat for the world’s population than any other food grain [2]. The United States is one of the largest global producers of wheat, and ranked third in planted area during the first 10 years of the 2000s [3]. 60,000 ha in Louisiana with an estimated total value of $75 million in 2014 [4]. The high annual rainfall and high temperatures in Louisiana challenge wheat productivity through high pest and disease pressure, poor N utilization, and short grain fill periods [5]. Silicon (Si) is a beneficial plant nutrient that has been shown to improve yields in a variety of crops, especially members of Poaceae family [6]
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