Natural silicates mixed with organic fertilizers enhance corn adaptation to salt stress and improve physical characteristics of sandy soil

Abstract

ABSTRACTSoil salinity is one of the major environmental constraints to crop productivity worldwide. Therefore, the development of cost-effective and environment-friendly techniques allowing increased crop productivity and soil fertility under saline conditions is rather urgent today. The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of mixtures containing natural silicates (analcite, bergmeal, and potassium silicate) and organic fertilizers (sapropel, peat) in corn (Zea mays L.). We specifically evaluated tolerance of corn to salinity stress and certain characteristics of saline soil (viz., redox potential, conductivity, and phytotoxicity) using a factorial pot experiment, modeling NaCl salinity levels of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM under greenhouse conditions. Growth, water balance, photosynthesis, catalase activity, and accumulation of nonenzymatic antioxidants (flavonoids and anthocyanins) were measured and evaluated. Salinity stress reduced shoot and root biomass by 8–49%, photosynthetic pigment content in leaves by 15–30%, deteriorated water balance, and activated nonspecific adaptive reactions (i.e., accumulation of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants) in the corn seedlings. All the tested silicon-containing mixtures stimulated corn seedling resistance to salt stress and reduced soil phytotoxicity. This was reflected in the stimulation of growth of the corn seedlings (accumulation of shoot biomass, and formation and growth of lateral roots). The content of photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, anthocyanins, catalase activity increased 1.3–2 times compared with plants that received NaCl only. The difference between treatments and control was most pronounced at moderate levels of salinity (100–150 mM). The mixture containing silicon minerals and sapropel (9:1 proportion) showed the highest protective effect against salinity stress.