Importance of Silicon in the Growth of Jatropha curcas L. Plants Irrigated With Salina Water

Abstract

The use of silicon in plant cultivation is one of the strategies to mitigate the negative effects of salinity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of silicate fertilization on the morphophysiological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics of Jatropha curcas L. plants under saline stress. The work was carried out in a greenhouse at the State University of Goiás. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement (plants irrigated with salt water with sodium chloride (NaCl) and electrical conductivities equal to 0 dS m-1; 2 dS m-1; 4 dS m-1; 6 dS m-1 and 8 dS m-1 applied at 80 days after emergence (DAE) and absence or presence of silica fertilization of 1 g L-1 with Si applied at 80 and 95 DAE by volume of 30 mL of the solution with the aid of a spray manual), five replicates and experimental plot of one plant per pot. The evaluations were carried out at 130 DAEs. The absence of differences in the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and visible damages is indicative of the absence of severe toxic effects caused by salinity. The tolerance of Jatropha curcas L. plants to salinity is independent of silicon. The Jatropha curcas L. plant tolerates salinity by minimizing transpiration and remaining hydrated through the water stored in the succulent stem. In addition, the plants control sodium uptake and eliminate toxic compounds through increases in Calcium concentration and antioxidative metabolism respectively.