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Silicon Application Methods Influence the Nutrient Uptake of Maize Plants in Tropical Soil

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Abstract

Purpose

The benefits of applying silicon to plants under stressful conditions are recognized. However, few studies have shown the effect of supply and form of application of silicon on the nutrition of plants grown under ideal conditions. This study aimed to verify the effects of different methods of silicon application on the nutrient uptake of maize in two tropical soils.

Methods

Silicon was supplied in three application methods (in the planting furrow, in the total pot area, and spraying) at two rates (30 and 120 mg Si kg−1 in soil; 2.56 and 7.68 mg Si pot−1 in leaf spraying) in maize plants in two tropical soil types (loamy sand textured soil and sandy clay loam textured soil). Thirty days after emergence, the concentrations of macronutrients, micronutrients, and silicon were evaluated.

Results

In sandy soil, potassium silicate application contributed to an increase in N, P, K, Mg, Si, and Cu concentrations, whereas in clay soil, there was an increase in the plant concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Si, and Mg.

Conclusion

It was concluded that silicon application contributed to greater nutrient uptake in maize plants. Our study suggests that silicon application could be an important tool for increasing mineral fertilization in tropical soil conditions.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the Noble Alchem Pvt. Ltd company for donating the Si source. The authors would also like to thank the Master Scholarship granted to the first author by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). We also thank our research group "silício no sistema solo-planta (SiSPlant)" for the partnership.

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Science, Soil and Environment, College of Agronomic Sciences, São Paulo State University, Universitária Avenue, Botucatu, SP, 3780, 18610-034, Brazil

    Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva, Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva, Dirceu Maximino Fernandes & Leonardo Theodoro Büll

  2. Department of Plant Health, Rural Engineering, and Soils, São Paulo State University, Monção Street, Ilha Solteira, SP, 226, 15385-000, Brazil

    Angélica Cristina Fernandes Deus

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  1. Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva
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  2. Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva
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  3. Angélica Cristina Fernandes Deus
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  4. Dirceu Maximino Fernandes
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  5. Leonardo Theodoro Büll
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Contributions

Conceptualization and methodology, Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva and Dirceu Maximino Fernandes; formal analysis, Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva; investigation and writing—original draft preparation, Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva, Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva, Angélica Cristina Fernandes Deus, Dirceu Maximino Fernandes and Leonardo Theodoro Büll; funding acquisition, Dirceu Maximino Fernandes and Leonardo Theodoro Büll. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva.

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da Silva, A.P.R., da Silva, L.J.R., Deus, A.C.F. et al. Silicon Application Methods Influence the Nutrient Uptake of Maize Plants in Tropical Soil. Silicon 15, 7327–7334 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02592-3

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