Effect of Silicate Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Two Local Indonesian Varieties of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Background: The beneficial elements availability such as silicon was determined rice growth and yield. Rice requires a different dose of silicon during the growing period. Experiment was aimed to investigate the effect of silicate levels, rice varieties and the interaction of the two on the growth and yields of two local Indonesian varieties of rice. Methods: A completely randomized design of factorial pattern with 4 replications was used in the experiment. Treatments consisted of No added SiO2 (Si-0); added 100 and 200 kg SiO2 ha-1, respectively for Si-100 and Si-200 and two local rice varieties, Pandan wangi (P1) and Mentik susu (P2). Result: The treatment had no significant effect on growth and yield of rice. Addition of 100 and 200 kg SiO2 ha-1 to P1 and P2 did not show a significant difference on the growth and yield of rice compared to control (P0). Plant height and root dry weight at P1 was lower than P2, but the 1,000-grain weight was showed, vice versa. Silicon addition up to 200 kg SiO2 ha-1 may not be recommended to be applied in rice cultivation, especially Pandan wangi and Mentik susu varieties. Improving the two varieties, further research is needed by increasing the silicon doses.