This study finds silicon application improves rice yield in acid soils, suggesting effective nutrient management techniques.
Abstract Rice cultivation in problematic acid soils poses challenges for sustainable agriculture. To address this issue, seedling root-dip (SRD), rhizospheric nutrient management technique, in soil-water slurry amended with nutrient prior to crop transplantation has gained recognition. The study reported critical doses of silicon (Si) in SRD (Na₂O₃Si.9H₂O amended soil-water slurry) for three rice types (Hybrid: Arize 6444, HYV: Ranjit and Traditional: Mendri) from two acid soils (Sandy clay loam, SCL, pH 4.98 and clay loam, CL, pH 4.52) and 10 h incubation, respectively using the critical curve approach by Cate and Nelson. In SCL, the order of critical Si doses (mg/kg⁻ ¹) was Hybrid (275) > HYV, Traditional (225), while in CL, it was Hybrid (325) > HYV (225) > Traditional (175). From the field experiment I, the Si content and uptake was significantly higher in soil application (SA) of P-Zn-Si at tillering stage, while in Experiment II, it was comparable among the Si applied treatments (either SRD/foliar application). At harvest, the yield increase over control in Experiment I was SA of P-Zn-Si (130%) > P + MCRD + Zn-Si foliar + 50% RDP (96.12%) > MN + MCRD (30.28%) > MCRD (19.01) > MNRD (2.82%) while in Experiment II, the yield in Si added treatments along with 50% RDP gives a comparable yield with conventional method (100% RDP) and additionally, it can also save the P fertilizer input up to 50%. Based on this result, the study recommends the application of Si (SRD/foliar application) along with 50% RDP may sustain higher rice yields in acid soils.
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Devi et al. (2025) studied this question.