Potassium Silicate, Against Water Stress, in Sweet Corn Plant Growth Traits

Ausbie Luis Graça Araújo,José Magno Queiroz Luz,Leandro Caixeta Salomão,Fernando Soares De Cantuário,Aurélio Rúbio Cantuário,Amanda Maria De Almeida,João De Jesus Guimarães,Alexandre Igor Azevedo Pereira,Carmen Rosa Da Silva Curvêlo

doi:10.5539/jas.v11n5p172

Abstract

Water stress in sweet corn plants due effect of climatic events, such as El Ni&ntilde;o, is difficult to monitor, leading to considerable losses. Silicon (Si) as an exogenous resistance elicitor may reduce water stress effects. The relationship between sweet corn plant age and its development, under induced water stress and leaf potassium silicate applications were evaluated. This work was carried out with the hybrid Tropical Plus&reg;, in a randomized factorial block design with 15, 30, 45 and 60 kPa as soil water tensions in plots and potassium silicate doses (0, 6, 12 and 24 L ha-1) in subplots. Stem diameter, plant height and leaf number per plant were evaluated at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after seeding. Root length was measured on the 90th day after seeding. Sweet corn plants submitted to water stress conditions and Si application showed an age-dependent response. Water stress did not decrease stem diameter, plant height and number of leaves per plant sprayed with Si. Root length was longer with 60 kPa soil water tension. Silicon reduced negative impacts of water stress on sweet corn plants.

Highlights

Water stress is a limiting factor in agriculture, reducing plant development and yield
Potassium silicate doses began to interact with soil-water tensions from 30 kPa up (Figure 1B), 40 kPa (Figure 1C) to 60 kPa soil-water tension (Figure 1D) for all five days after seeding evaluation
Stem diameter of sweet corn plants had the highest fluctuation as showed by seeding observed data, according to plant height and number of leaves per plant

Summary

Introduction

Water stress is a limiting factor in agriculture, reducing plant development and yield. The need to maintain plant quality in water scarcity condition, a common situation in the Brazilian Cerrado Savanna (Heinemann et al, 2009), is one of the main agricultural challenges in Brazil. The climatic events, such as El Niño (Li et al, 2011), reduce precipitation, even during the rainy season, leading to plant water stress (Doto et al, 2015). The company Syngenta Seeds Ltda dominates the sweet corn seed market in Brazil, with the Tropical Plus® hybrid

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