Effects of silicon fertigation on dry matter production and crude protein contents of a pasture

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of application of two silicon sources via fertigation on nitrogen use efficiency and the production and crude protein contents of the forages BRS Zuri and BRS RB331 Ipyporã. Two experiments were carried out using both forages with treatments arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial design with four Si concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 4 mmol L−1) and two sources of Si (stabilized sodium and potassium silicate, and potassium silicate) arranged in completely randomized blocks with four replications. Plants were grown in pots filled with dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol samples with a content Si available of 5.1 mg dm−3. Two forage collections were carried out to evaluate silicon accumulation in shoots, number of tillers and leaves, leaf area, nitrogen use efficiency, shoot and accumulated dry matter, and nitrogen and crude protein contents. The correlation study showed that the increase in Si accumulation of the studied forages, promoted by the two sources of the element, correlated with the studied variables. The application of silicon via fertigation in the forages showed no interaction between concentrations and sources for the variables studied, but the effects of silicon do not depend on sources. The application of silicon via fertigation is an excellent choice for studied forages plants. This research proposes the application of Si via fertigation at a concentration of 2.7–2.8 mmol L−1 as a new strategy to increase biomass production and protein content.