Effect of silicate on nutrition and yield of wheat

摘要

An improvement in soil properties and crop development with silicate application has been confirmed in several plant species. This study investigated the effect of application of calcium silicate on nutrition and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat plants were grown in 8-L pots filled with clayey Rhodic Hapludox in a greenhouse. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, with five treatments, and four replicates. The treatments consisted of growing wheat plants with 0 (control), 1.2, 2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 Mg ha-1 of calcium silicate (Ca2SiO4). Calcium silicate increased the pH of the soil, and the silicon concentration in leaves and stems of the wheat. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) concentrations in the wheat flag leaves were not affected by the application of calcium silicate, whereas the K and Ca concentrations were increased and the Zn and Mn concentrations were reduced by the application of calcium silicate rates. The application of calcium silicate rates did not affect plant height, number of spikes per pot, shoot dry matter, grain yield and harvest index of wheat.