Effect of Different Silicon Sources on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Silicon Use Efficiency of Rice under Different Establishment Methods

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during Rabi season at the farmer field, Orathur Village, Keerapalayam block,Cuddalore District,Tamilnadu, India to study the effect of different silicon sources onyield, nutrient uptake and silicon use efficiency of rice under different establishment methods. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two replications. The main plots comprised of M₁- Dry Seeded Rice (DSR), M₂- Wet Seeded Rice (WSR) and M₃- Transplanted Rice (TR) and sub plots are S₁- RDF, S₂- S₁ + 100 kg Si ha^-1 through Calcium Silicate + Silicate solubilising bacteria (SSB), S₃ -S₁ + 200 kg Si ha^-1 through Calcium Silicate + SSB, S₄ -S₁ + 100 kg Si ha^-1 through Diatomaceous Earth, S₅ -S₁ + 200 kg Si ha^-1 through Diatomaceous Earth, S₆ –S₁ + 100 kg Si ha^-1 through Fly ash + SSB and S₇ – S₁ + 200 kg Si ha^-1 through Fly ash + SSB. Among the methods of establishments, transplanted rice recorded significantly higher yield ( grain and straw), nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Si) and Silicon use efficiency (Agronomic efficiency(AE)and Apparent Si recovery (ASiE)of rice, which was followed by wet seeded rice, With regards to silicon sources, application of 200 kg Si ha^-1 through Diatomaceous Earth along with RDF recorded higher values for yields (grain and straw),nutrient uptake (N,P,K and Si). However, 100kg Si ha^-1 through Diatomaceous Earth along with RDF recorded higher values for Silicon use efficiencyof rice. The Diatomaceous earth performed better than Fly ash + SSB (Silicate solubilising bacteria) and Calcium silicate + SSB. This was closely followed by S₄ for yield(grain and straw), nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Si) and S₅ for Silicon use efficiency (AE and ASiE). The interaction effect between establishment methods and sources of silicon was significant. The treatment combination of diatomaceous @ 200 kg Si ha^-1 earth along with RDF and transplanting method registered its superiority over others and recorded higher yields (grain and straw), nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Si) and thetreatment combination of diatomaceous @ 100 kg Si ha^-1 earth along with RDF and transplanting method registered its superiority over others and recorded higher silicon use efficiency (AE and ASiE) of rice. Therefore it can be concluded that rice planted at 15x10 cm and fertilized with Diatomaceous Earth @200 kg Si ha^-1 + RDF is a viable practice to enhance the yield (grain and straw) and nutrient uptake (N, P, K and Si) of rice and Diatomaceous Earth @100 kg Si ha^-1 + RDF is found to enhance silicon use efficiency of rice.