Identifier

etd-04112016-142710

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Plant, Enviromental and Soil Sciences

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Silicon (Si) fertilization has gained attention in rice (Oryza sativa) production. However, the common soil-applied sources are amended at high rates, whereas the efficacy of foliar Si application is yet to be proven. A series of pot experiments were conducted to (1) elucidate the effects of different Si sources on grain yield and Si accumulation of rice supplied with varying P rates, and 2) evaluate Si absorption and uptake by rice via foliar- and soil-application of Si fertilizers. First, three phosphorus (P) rates (0, 112, and 224 kg P ha-1) and three Si sources: two soil-applied (wollastonite and silicate slag) and a liquid Si formulation applied as foliar spray at rates of 20, 40, and 80 mg Si L-1 were set as treatments. Silicon applied to soil (wollastonite and silicate slag) and leaves (Si solution) did not result in significant increase in rice P content and uptake in straw and grain. However, a corresponding increase in soil P content was observed with wollastonite application. Across all rice stages, wollastonite application consistently increased biomass Si content (P<0.05), but no significant increase in rice yield was observed with Si fertilization. For the second objective, two greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine if Si in solution can be absorbed through leaf surface and translocated within the plant. Three application rates of Si solution (20, 40, and 80 mg Si L-1) were sprayed to either whole rice plants or leaves of the primary third tiller of each plant, whereas for the second experiment, Si solution (80 mg Si L-1) was strictly applied to adaxial side of rice leaves, including two soil-sources and a check. The experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with at least four replications. There was no significant effect observed on rice growth and yield with Si fertilization. Foliar application of Si solution did not increase Si content of leaves, whereas wollastonite-treated rice attained the highest Si content (P<0.01). The outcomes of this series of greenhouse studies suggest that Si absorption on leaf surface did not take place as well as the translocation of Si within the plant.

Date

2016

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Tubana, Brenda

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.3519

Download

Share

COinS