Application Of Silicic Acid Research Articles

Influence of Silicic Acid Foliar Spray on the Incidence of Sucking Insect Pests and their Natural Enemies in Rapeseed

Silicon induces resistance in various crops against insect pests of diverse feeding guilds, including hemipterans, through upregulation of plant defense mechanisms along with maintenance of plant physiological processes. The present investigation to study the effect of silicon in the form of silicic acid (SA) against major sucking insect pests (Lipaphis erysimi and Bagrada hilaris) and natural enemies (Coccinella transversalis and Episyrphus balteatus) in rapeseed revealed that the foliar application of SA @ 0.4% thrice at 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing significantly reduced the colonization of L. erysimi as against non-significant effect on the population of B. hilaris. Three sprays of SA @ 0.4% significantly increased the population of C. transversalis without any significant effect on E. balteatus population. The silicon content of the rapeseed grains was also found to be significantly enhanced (0.32%) with 3 sprays of SA @ 0.4%.

Morpho-Physiological Responses of Wheat to Silicon and Bio-Fertilizer under Water-Deficit Conditions

Recently, the use of silicon and bio-fertilizer has become important worldwide to improve the physicochemical characteristics of soil. Thus, they are used as an alternative approach to cope with the water-deficit stress on wheat plant. In this regard, a split-plot factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted during 2017 and 2018 at Sistan and Baluchestan Research Station, Iran. In the present study, treatments included water-deficit stress (irrigation after 60, 120, and 180 mm of evaporation from Class A pan) as the main plot, as well as the application of silicic acid (Si) foliar nutrition (0, 1, and 1.5 mM) and Nitro-Kara bio-fertilizer as sub-plots. The results represented the significant interaction effects of irrigation regimes, bio-fertilizer, and Si on 1000-grain weight and panicle number. In addition, the co-application of Nitro-Kara and Si fertilizers (1 mM) under irrigation after 120 mm evaporation led to the highest grain per panicle (44 number), which reflected a 21.36% increase compared to the control. The greatest 1000-grain weight (39.66 g) was obtained by inoculating seed with Nitro-Kara and without to apply Si fertilizer under 120 mm irrigation treatment in the first year. Further, inoculation under moderate stress (120 mm) in the second year demonstrated the highest grain yield (5,256.3 kg ha-1). Furthermore, a high chlorophyll index (57.6) was achieved when consuming 1.5 mM Si fertilizer and without Nitro Kara under 120 mm irrigation regime during the first year, which had a 20.2% enhancement compared to the control treatment. Under low irrigation conditions, the use of Nitro-Kara bio-fertilizer and Si fertilizer resulted generally in improving physiological parameters and increasing the growth and yield indices of wheat.

Effects of Silicon on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Cantaloupe under Drought Stress

Silicon (Si) plays an important role in mitigating adverse effects of various biotic and abiotic stresses including drought. Polyhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Si on growth, yield and fruit quality of cantaloupe under drought stress. The treatments consisted of four Si fertilizer doses (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg ha−1) applied in the form of silicic acid [H4SiO4, 20% Si content] and three soil moisture regimes (100%, 75% and 50% field capacity [FC]). Growth, yield and fruit quality were significantly (p < 0.01) affected by decreasing soil moisture level. Yield and water productivity were reduced by 63–69% and 19–34%, respectively, at different Si fertilizer doses when soil moisture was reduced from 100% to 50% FC. Overall, application of Si fertilizer was beneficial at all soil moisture regimes. There was no significant difference in yield and water productivity among four Si fertilizer doses at 50% FC, while these parameters were increased by 18–27% and 16–22%, respectively, at 75% FC and by 10–19% and 2–12%, respectively, at 100% FC with increasing Si fertilizer dose. Flesh thickness and total soluble solids content were also higher in Si-fed plants than the control. Application of silicic acid at 200 and 400 kg ha−1 maximized yield at 75% and 100% FC, respectively, and hence could be recommended as optimum doses. Selection of proper Si dose in synchronization with soil moisture level could be critical in cantaloupe production when soil moisture is a limiting factor.

Effect of biochars, biogenic, and inorganic amendments on dissolution and kinetic release of phytoavailable silicon in texturally different soils under submerged conditions

Extensive cropping leads to higher removal of silicon (Si) from the soils and makes it a limiting element for various crops. Application of silicic acid (H4SiO4) has limited scope due to high cost, low solubility, and high polymerization. The biogenic sources of Si are alternative to silicic acid (H4SiO4) and Si release from these sources is a function of different soil properties like pH, redox potential, texture etc. Kinetics release of plant available Si (PASi) from various organic and inorganic sources was evaluated in texturally different soils such as sandy loam (SL), sandy clay loam (SCL), and clay (CL) under a 60-day incubation study. Our findings suggest that the highest cumulative release of Si (cSi) was observed in SCL (47.6 mg/L) in control sets without any amendments. The highest cSi release among plant residue amendments was observed by bamboo leaves (340 mg/L) and rice husk (RH) (301 mg/L) in SL and SCL soils, respectively. Among biochar amendments, the rice husk biochar (RHB) released the maximum quantity (246.55 and 243.9 mg/L) of Si in SCL and CL soils respectively. Among the ashes, sugarcane bagasse ash had the highest release (316 mg/L) of Si in SCL and RHA which yielded 235.2 Si mg/L in CL soil for 60days. Silicon release kinetics for these sets of systems showed a diffusive behavior of Si being released from amendments primarily dependent on soil type.

Inducers of resistance in potato and its effects on defoliators and predatory insects

The effects of chemical inducers of plant resistance on folivorous beetles and predatory insects in Sola- num tuberosum L. were evaluated. The effects of these chemical inducers on crop development and yield were also determined. The experiment was conducted with cv. Emeraude using a randomised complete-block design with four treatments and six replications: 1 - control; 2 - 1% silicic acid; 3 - 0.02% acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM); and 4 - 1.15% diatomaceous earth (DE). Treatments 2, 3 and 4 were applied by spraying plant foliage every 10 days, total of five applications. The injuries and damages caused by beetles were evaluated. There were no significant differences in the presence of folivorous and predatory beetles in the aerial plant mass and the surrounding soil. However, the plants treated with silica or DE were less preferred by defoliators. Spraying with silicic acid, ASM and DE produced signifi- cant increases in plant diameter and height without affecting productivity. The application of silicic acid, ASM or DE increased protection against herbivorous insects and decreased tuber damage.

Biological aspects and feeding behavior of cotton aphid in watermelon cultivars submitted to silicon application

ABSTRACT This research aimed to evaluate the biological aspects and the feeding behavior of Aphis gossypii in watermelon cultivars submitted to silicon application. The experiment was conducted at the Institute of Education, Agriculture and Environment of the Federal University of Amazonas, Humaitá, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2×3 factorial (with and without silicon; cultivars Crimson Sweet, Fairfax and Charleston), with ten replications. The application of silicic acid (1%) was carried out directly on the substrate using dose equivalent to 1 ton SiO2·ha-1, 25 days after sowing. The rearing of aphids was kept in cucumber plants, cultivar Caipira. Insect biology tests were conducted to evaluate the duration of the prereproductive, reproductive and postreproductive periods, longevity, number of nymphs, and feeding behavior using the honeydew secretion technique. Analysis of variance was performed using the statistical program SISVAR and the means were compared by the F and Scott–Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). The silicon application to watermelon plants affects the reproduction and feeding of A. gossypii. The watermelon plants cultivar Crimson Sweet treated with silicon has high resistance to feeding by A. gossypii.

Pineapple plantlets ‘Vitória’ fertilized with potassium chloride and silicic acid: growth and nutritional composition

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon and potassium fertilization on the growth and nutrient content of pineapple plantlets ‘Vitoria’ obtained from in vitro cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse from November 2013 to April 2014, totaling 150 days. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with four doses of potassium chloride (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 3.75 g L-1) with or without the application of silicic acid, with five replications of 12 plants each. The silicon concentration in pineapple plants ranged from 11.57 to 16.97 g kg-1, and an increase of 33% in the nutrient levels in plants fertilized with the lowest dose of potassium chloride was observed. It was observed that increasing doses of potassium chloride together with silicic acid resulted in lower root volumes in pineapple plantlets. Potassium accumulation of pineapple plantlets fertilized with silicic acid was lower than that of non-fertilized plantlets.

EFFECT OF FOLIAR SPRAY OF SOLUBLE SILICIC ACID ON GROWTH AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF WETLAND RICE IN HILLY AND COASTAL ZONE SOILS OF KARNATAKA, SOUTH INDIA

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar spray of soluble silicic acid on growth and yield parameters of wetland rice. The results revealed a significant effect on achieving higher grain and straw yield with foliar silicic acid over control. Foliar spray of silicic acid at 2 and 4 ml L−1 increased the grain and straw yield and application of 8 ml L−1 decreased the yield. Foliar spray of silicic acid at 4 ml L−1 along with half dose of recommended pesticide effectively increased the yields over all other treatments. The content and uptake of silicon in grain and straw was recorded higher with the foliar spray of silicic acid over control. This investigation concludes that application of silicic acid at 4 ml L−1 along with half dose of recommended pesticide as foliar spray increased the grain and straw yield, besides Si content and its uptake over control.

Studies on Helminthosporium blight of rice plants. VII.

1. In the present paper the writer described the results of the experiments on the relation of silicic acid supply on soil to the disease outbreak in rice plants.2. The application of silicic acid on soil increases the resistance to blast disease on pedicels of spikes of rice plants and the application of silica with boric acid er copper sulphate decreases effectiveness of silica given. Single supply of boric acid or copper sulphate on soil may cause a little suppression to the outbreak of rice blast disease.3. The relation of the supply of silicic acid, with boric acid, or copper sulphate on soil to the outbreak of Helrminthosporium-blight on leaves is entirely similar to that of blast disease. The silicification of epidermal cell walls in adult leaves increased remarkably with the supply of silicic acid on soil. Single application of boric acid on soil resulted in a little increase of the silicification, but copper sulphate supply has the tendency to inhibit the silicification of leaves.