Silicon via fertigation with and without potassium application, improve physiological aspects of common beans cultivated under three water regimes in field

Abstract

Frequent droughts have led to an expansion of irrigated common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation areas. An effective strategy to enhance water use efficiency and optimize crop growth is the application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K). However, the interaction between Si dosage, water regimes, and plant potassium status, as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms, remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the effects of Si doses applied via fertigation under various water regimes, in the presence and absence of potassium fertilization, on gas exchange, water use efficiency, and growth of Common beans in field conditions. Two experiments were conducted, one with and one without K supply, considering that the potassium content in the soil was 6.4 mmolc dm-3 in both experiments and a replacement dose of 50 kg ha was applied in the with K treatment, with the same treatments evaluated in both potassium conditions. The treatments comprised a 3 × 4 factorial design, encompassing three water regimes: 80% (no deficit), 60% (moderate water deficit), and 40% (severe water deficit) of soil water retention capacity, and four doses of Si supplied via fertigation: 0, 4, 8, and 12 kg ha−1. Where it was evaluated, content of photosynthetic pigments, fluorescence of photosynthesis, relative water content, leaf water potential and electrolyte extravasation, dry mass of leaves, stems and total. The optimal doses of Si for fertigation application, leading to increased Si absorption in plants, varied with decreasing soil water content. The respective values were 6.6, 7.0, and 7.1 kg ha−1 for the water regimes without deficit, with moderate water deficit, and with severe water deficit. Fertigation application of Si improved plant performance, particularly under severe water deficit, regardless of potassium status. This improvement was evident in relative water content, leaf water potential, and membrane resistance, directly impacting pigment content and gas exchange rates. The physiological effects resulted in enhanced photosynthesis in water-deficient plants, mitigating dry mass production losses. This research demonstrates, for the first time in common bean, the potential of Si to enhance irrigation efficiency in areas limited by low precipitation and water scarcity.

Potassium silicate and vinasse enhance biometric characteristics of perennial sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) under greenhouse conditions

“…The observed positive effects on sweet pepper plant's biomass and growth attributes due to drenching vinasse with varying PS concentrations could be attributed to changes in soil osmotic pressure [46][47][48] , potentially leading to increased water and nutrient uptake, thus affecting metabolic activities like photosynthesis and respiration, influencing plant growth 49 . The presence of potassium in PS and vinasse could enhance carbon assimilation and sugar transport 15,50 , while silicon may boost photosynthesis by increasing chlorophyll concentration and affecting www.nature.com/scientificreports/ the activities of RuBisCO and PEP-carboxylase enzymes for CO 2 fixation 51,52 . Vinasse is rich in both major and trace nutrients (Table 2), which play pivotal role in various physiological processes and promote plant vigor.…”