Growth and nutrient uptake of coffee seedlings cultivated in nutrient solution with and without silicon addition

Abstract

RESUMO Crescimento e absorção de nutrientes pelo cafeeiro cultivado em solução nutritiva com e sem adição de silícioA adubação silicatada do cafeeiro promove alteração da nutrição da planta e de seu crescimento. Assim, a determinação da absorção de silício e sua influência na absorção de macro e micronutrientes pelas plantas são essenciais para avaliar as implicações deste elemento na fisiologia vegetal, bem como no manejo adequado da cultura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a absorção de silício por plantas de café e seu efeito no crescimento e na absorção de outros nutrientes. A pesquisa foi conduzida em casa de vegetação do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos (com e sem adição de silício) e três repetições, cada uma delas composta por três plantas. Foram retiradas alíquotas, a cada três dias, das soluções nutritivas e avaliadas as quantidades de silício e potássio absorvidas, bem como o consumo de água por plantas de café, além da concentração de OH -na solução nutritiva. Ao final de 33 dias, as plantas foram avaliadas quanto à massa de matéria fresca e seca de folhas, raízes e caule; altura da parte aérea e comprimento Growth and nutrient uptake of coffee seedlings cultivated in nutrient solution with and without silicon additionIn recent years, the application of silicon (Si) in crops, including coffee, has become a common practice. The objective of this study was to assess the silicon uptake by coffee seedlings and its effects on plant growth, water and macro and micronutrient uptake. The research was conducted using nutrient solution in a greenhouse at the Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, in a completely randomized design with two treatments (with and without silicon) and three replications. Each plot consisted of three plants grown in a 800 mL vessel containing the treatment solutions. At every three days, water consumption, the concentration of OH -and the depletion of Si and K were assessed in the nutrient solutions. After 33 days, the plants were assessed with regard to their fresh and dry weight of leaves, roots and stem, shoot height and total length of the plant (shoot and root). Number of leaves and internodes, and the content and accumulation of silicon, macro, and micronutrients were also determined. The consumption of water, the amount of potassium uptake and, biomass accumulation were greater in plants grown in solution without silicon addition. However, the concentration of OH -in the solution and the amount of silicon uptake were greater in plants grown in solution with added silicon. Silicon accumulation was greater in leaves than in stem and roots. Silicon decreased coffee plant accumulation of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and iron.

Silicon induces hormetic dose-response effects on growth and concentrations of chlorophylls, amino acids and sugars in pepper plants during the early developmental stage

“…These results coincide with the greater height observed in rice plants receiving high doses of SiO 2 (Cuong et al, 2017). However, in coffee (Coffea arabica L.), control plants showed greater height than seedlings supplied with 2 mmol L −1 Si (Cunha et al, 2012). This confirms that Si application may actually have different effects on different plant genotypes.…”

“…Coincidently, pepper plants treated with 1.5 mM Si (supplied as K 2 SiO 3 ) for 15 days increased shoot length, shoot diameter, root length, number of roots and fresh biomass weight in comparison to control plants (Manivannan et al, 2016). Nonetheless, in coffee seedlings, the number of leaves and internodes showed no statistical difference among treatments (Cunha et al, 2012). Thus, the application of Si can differentially affect plant growth and development, depending on the internal mechanisms that the genotype has to metabolize this element (Ouellette et al, 2017).…”

Silicon in plant disease control

“…The leaf silicon content obtained through chemical analysis in Catuaí seedlings varied from 1.5 g kg -1 in the control to 4.7 g kg -1 in the substrate added with 1 g kg -1 CaSiO 3 (Pozza et al, 2004). The above mentioned contents were similar to those obtained in the shoots of plants of Catuaí Amarelo by Cunha et al (2012). These authors found contents of 5 g kg According to Carré-Missio et al (2012), the foliar application of 15 g L -1 potassium silicate can reduce the coffee rust severity.…”

Low concentration fertigation solution allows greater macronutrient use efficiency in coffee seedlings

“…Although Si does not change macronutrient content and accumulation, it decreases the Zn in roots and Cu in leaves and increases Mn in the stem, for both the concentration and amount of accumulated nutrient. The absence of an effect on macronutrients and the erratic effect of Si on micronutrients demonstrate that there was no nutritional benefit of Si for coffee seedlings (Cunha et al, 2012).…”