Effect of Silicon through Potassium Silicate on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Quality of Grand Naine Banana

Field experiment was conducted in Farmers holding located at Rajagopalapuram village under Kuttalam taluk, Mayiladuthurai district, Tamilnadu, India belonging to Padugai series (Typic ustifluvent) low in available silicon to elucidate the response of banana in terms of yield, nutrition and quality due to silicon nutrition applied through potassium silicate. The treatment consists of T1 - NPK (RDF), T2 - NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 0.25%, T3- NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 0.50%, T4 - NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 1.00%, T5­ - NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 0.25%, T6 - NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 0.50%, T7­ - NPK + Potassium silicate (FS) - 1.00%, T8 - NPK + Potassium silicate (SA) - 50 kg ha-1, T9 - NPK + Potassium silicate (SA) - 100 kg ha-1 and T10 - NPK + Potassium silicate (SA) – 150 kg ha-1. From T2 to T4 foliar spray was done at 3rd and 5th month and from T5 to T7, foliar spray was done at 3rd, 5th and 7th month. The test crop is Banana Var. Grand Naine. The results showed that the highest fruit yield was noticed with 50 kg Si ha-1 (96.0 t ha-1) and it reduced with Si levels. Among foliar treatments, fruit yield increased with silicon concentrations (0.25 to 1%). The highest fruit yield was observed with 1% Si applied at 3rd and 5th month (92.7 t ha-1). Foliar spray of 0.25 and 0.5% Si applied thrice increased the fruit yield compared to twice application at same concentration. But fruit yield declined when Si was sprayed at 1% thrice. Soil application of silicon recorded higher nutrient uptake over foliar addition. The nutrient uptake was maximum with 150 kg Si ha-1. With respect to foliar treatments, the highest uptake was noticed with foliar spray of 1% Si applied at 3rd and 5th month. Soil application of 50 kg Si ha-1 recorded the highest fruit quality viz., TSS, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugar and leaf protein. The highest fruit quality was noticed with foliar spray of 1% Si applied at 3rd and 5th month.

Potential Benefits of Silicon Nutrition to Hydroponically Grown Sweet Basil

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a globally cultivated and consumed herb known for its unique aroma and flavor. Sweet basil grows best in warm temperatures, and productivity and marketability decrease when grown under cool conditions (<10 °C). Silicon (Si) is not considered an essential plant nutrient, but it can be beneficial to Si macroaccumulator plants by alleviating several biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent studies have shown that some microaccumulator species may also benefit from Si. In this study, we examined the effects of different levels (0, 25, and 75 ppm Si) of Si amendments on hydroponic basil grown at 23 °C. Si (75 ppm) significantly increased shoot height and weight with no negative impact on plant morphology. All Si-treated basil plants absorbed Si in small quantities and affected the uptake of phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and molybdenum. After an unintentional frost event, basil plants treated with 75 ppm had significantly higher survival rates and reduced cold injury symptoms. We concluded that Si amendments can have a positive impact on hydroponically grown sweet basil, and that such amendments may reduce plant damage due to occasionally cooler growing temperatures.