Response of Sugarcane to Calcium Silicate on Yield, Gas Exchange Characteristics, Leaf Nutrient Concentrations, and Soil Properties in Two Different Soils

Abstract

Silicon (Si), applied as calcium silicate (Ca-silicate), was evaluated for effects on yield; yield-contributing parameters in sugarcane, such as chlorophyll content, gas exchange characteristics, moisture content, and leaf nutrient concentrations; and soil fertility in the greenhouse in two different soil types. Seven levels of Si (0 20, 40, 60, 80, 120, and 150 g pot–1) were tested by applying them with traditional fertilizers. Gas exchange characteristics such as photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance were significantly greater with the plants fertilized with silicate over unamended control for both soils. Silicate fertilization increased chlorophyll and moisture contents in the top visible dewlap (TVD) leaf tissues, but results were not significantly better in both soils when compared with unamended control. In our 12-month study, we found that the Si content reached up to 2.64% and 1.86% per dry mass in TVD leaf tissues when amended with Ca-silicate fertilizer in soils 1 and 2, respectively. Results showed that as compared to unamended control, Si-amended treatments significantly increased maximum dry matter and cane yield by 77% and 66% in soil 1 and 41% and 15% in soil 2, respectively. With increasing silicate application, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese contents significantly decreased in leaf tissues and soil contents in both soils. Soil pH, Si contents, available sulfur, exchangeable Ca and magnesium, and cation exchange capacity were increased significantly more or less, whereas aluminum contents of soil decreased dramatically in both soils when amended with Ca-silicate. Our results indicate that different soil fertility status and rates of Si application are important factors influencing the yield, growth parameters, chlorophyll, and nutrient contents of sugarcane leaf as well as soil properties.