Evaluation of Si Fertilization and Spraying of Nano-K and Ca on Si Content, Si Uptake, and Si Use Efficiency of Rice

Abstract

A study was carried out in Al-Tale’a town (District of 41-Al-Husseiniyah, south of Hilla City) in the Babylon Governorate of Iraq from the 15th of June to the 19th of November 2020 to evaluate the effects of Si fertilization and Nano-K and Nano-Ca spraying on the content and uptake of Si and its use efficiency in rice crops. This experiment was conducted in an effort to determine the This experiment was conducted between the 15th and 19th of June, 2020. (Oryza sativa L.). The research was done using a split-plot design, and the parameter distribution was carried out using a randomized full blocks approach (RCBD). The supplied amounts of Si fertilizer served as the major plot, while the concentrations of nano-fertilizer concentrations served as the secondary plot. There were a total of sixteen treatments, and each was replicated three times. The analysis and interpretation of the research’s results were conducted using statistical tools. The amount of silica fertilizer was the first variable with four levels: 0 kg ha-1, 100 kg ha-1, 200 kg ha-1, and 300 kg ha-1. The second component was the application of nano-fertilizers, which contained four separate treatment options: the control, nano-potassium, nano-calcium, and nano-(K + Ca). The only treatment option that did not include nano-fertilizers was the control. According to the findings, silica fertilization at a rate of 300 kg ha-1 led to the highest silicon content in grain and straw (0.961 and 0.952)%, as well as the maximum Si-uptake in grain and straw (55.363, 122.337 and 177.700) kg Si ha-1. The use of nano foliar spraying with potassium and calcium produced the highest grain silicon concentration (44.540) kg Si ha-1 and total silicon content among all treatments (153.339) kg Si ha-1. Strong interaction between Si fertilization and foliar spraying with nano-K and Ca led in the largest mean of total Si-uptake (179.268) kg Si ha-1 and silicon utilization efficiency. This was accomplished by a mixture of silica fertilizer and nano-potassium and calcium foliar sprays. This outcome was achieved by using silica fertilizer in combination with nano-potassium and calcium-containing foliar sprays (66.95)%.