Potential of Silicon Amendment for Improved Wheat Production

Abstract

Many studies throughout the world have shown positive responses of various crops to silicon (Si) application in terms of plant health, nutrient uptake, yield, and quality. Although not considered an essential element for plant growth, Si has been recently recognized as a “beneficial substance” or “quasi-essential” due to its important role in plant nutrition, especially notable under stressed conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Si on wheat plant height, grain yield (GY), and grain protein content (GP). The experiment was conducted during two consecutive growing seasons in Idaho. A split-plot experimental design was used with three Si fertilization rates (140, 280, and 560 kg Si ha−1) corresponding to 100, 50, and 25% of manufacturer-recommended rates and two application times—at planting and tillering (Feekes 5). MontanaGrowTM (0-0-5) by MontanaGrow Inc. (Bonner, MT, USA) used in this study is a Si product sourced from a high-energy amorphous (non-crystalized) volcanic tuff. There was no significant effect of Si rate and application time on plant height, nutrient uptake, GY, or GP of irrigated winter wheat grown in non-stressed conditions. These results could be directly related to the Si fertilizer source used in the study. We are planning to further evaluate Si’s effect on growth and grain production of wheat grown in non-stressed vs. stressed conditions utilizing several different Si sources and application methods.

Silicon Amendment Enhances Agronomic Efficiency of Nitrogen Fertilization in Maize and Wheat Crops under Tropical Conditions

“…Most of the absorbed Si was accumulated in the shoot tissue, where it is deposited within the leaf epidermis through plant transpiration flux. The Si inside plant epidermis was condensed into a polymerized silica gel (SiO 2 nH 2 O) known as a phytolith that is immobile and developed a protective structural layer in the plant cell walls [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Interestingly, we verified that grain Si accumulation in maize and wheat also increased with silicate application.…”

“…Some previous studies reported that sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) has the potential to take up the largest amount of silicon (300–700 kg of Si ha −1 ), followed by rice (150–300 kg of Si ha −1 ), and wheat (30–150 kg of Si ha −1 ) [ 41 ]. On an average, plants can absorb anywhere from 30 to 300 kg Si ha −1 [ 38 , 42 ]. Such values of absorbed silicon cannot be fully explained by passive absorption because the upper 0.20 m soil layer contains only an average of 0.1–1.6 kg Si ha −1 as monosilicic acid [ 41 ].…”

Effect of Silicon Fertilization on Crop Yield Quantity and Quality—A Literature Review in Europe

“…Another study in which the effect of silicon was examined on wheat production was conducted in Idaho [ 17 ]. Three concentrations of Si, i.e., 140, 280, and 560 kg Si∙ha −1 for fertilization, were applied in the form of amorphous volcanic tuff.…”

Silicon Use in the Integrated Disease Management of Wheat: Current Knowledge

“…In New Jersey, in a three consecutive years of field experiment, calcium silicate (steel slag by-product) was added on a Quakertown Silt Loam soil increasing yield up to 10%, but only under biotic stress imposed by powdery mildew [57]. A two consecutive growing seasons experiment performed in Idaho evaluated the application of Si in the form of amorphous volcanic tuff in the Greenleaf-Owyhee Silt Loam soil indicated that there was no significant effect of Si on plant height, nutrient uptake, grain yield and grain protein content of winter wheat grown in non-stressed conditions [58]. A three site-years experiment was conducted on the Alluvial Floodplain soils in Louisiana to evaluated silicate slag applications on productivity of wheat under sufficient and high nitrogen application rates showed a numerical trends of grain yield increase increasing silicate slag rate, but significant increase was only observed in one site and year [59].…”