Effects of Silicon Application at Nano and Micro Scales on the Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Potato Minitubers (Solanum tuberosum var. Agria) in Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

Silicon has shown to have significant improving effects on nutrient uptake in plants. In this research, the effects of four different silicon compounds (nanosilica, sodium silicate, nanoclay, and Bentonite) in two concentrations (1000 and 2000 ppm) on the growth characteristics and nutrient uptake of potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Agria) plants have been investigated. Silicon treatments, except sodium silicate, improved leaf properties (up to 18% in leaf dry weight in Bentonite (1000 ppm)) and increased stem diameter (up to 17% in nanoclay and Bentonite (1000 ppm)). All root characteristics were enhanced when silicon was applied (up to 54% in root area per plant in sodium silicate (1000 ppm)). Although minituber production was not affected by silicon treatments, minituber quality characteristics were improved by silicon application in comparison with the control plants. Si, Mo, K, and P contents increased, while Al and Mn contents decreased in both tuber and plant in Si application treatments. Whereas Mg, Zn, and Fe contents were lower in Si-treated plants, Si content favorably increased in tubers. Si content in plants showed an increasing pattern of nanosilica < Bentonite < nanoclay < sodium silicate with regard to the Silicon source.