Soluble silicon compounds in soils of different granulometric composition of the western region of Ukraine

Abstract

One of the most common elements in the earth's crust is silicon. In soils, its content varies widely. One hundred years ago, the role of silicon in agriculture and human nutrition was not paid attention. But with the intensification of agricultural production in addition to the basic elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, the importance of which for crop yields is recognized, much attention was paid to secondary and trace elements, in particular, silicon. The aim of the research was to determine the content of soluble silicon compounds in the arable layer of chernozem-type soils depending on their particle size distribution. The research was conducted on arable lands of Novoushitsky district of Khmelnytsky region. In soil samples were determined: particle size distribution and content of fractions of particle size elements of different sizes according to DSTU 4730: 2007; pH of salt extract according to DSTU ISO 10390: 2001; humus content according to DSTU 4289: 2004; the content of metabolic compounds of calcium and magnesium by extraction with 1.0 M solution of KCl. Silicon compounds in soils were determined by the method of Mullen and Riley with extraction of silicon by VV Matychenkov. Studies conducted on the soils of agricultural lands of Khmelnytsky region have shown that the content of silicon compounds in soils is related to the particle size distribution of the soil, values of metabolic acidity, humus content, as well as the composition and content of exchangeable cations. The average values of easily accessible silicon compounds in the studied soils of agricultural lands of Novoushitsky district of Khmelnytsky region range from 87 to 120 mg / kg SiO2, and hard-to-reach - 520-854 mg / kg SiO2. To assess the content of silicon compounds in the soils of Ukraine and the need for the use of silicon fertilizers, we propose to use the ratio between the content of readily available (active) and hard-to-reach (potential) silicon. Optimal values should be 3-4 for the ratio of metabolic calcium to hard-to-reach silicon 5-6. The studied soils of Novoushitsky district of Khmelnytsky region have low-deficit and deficit-free balance of silicon, both easily accessible and hard-to-reach forms. Since the yield of winter wheat was closely related to the content of readily available silicon compounds (r = 0.74 ± 0.09), it is important to continue research to establish the norms of silicon fertilizers.