Influence of Silicon Fertilization on Nitrogen Fractions and Nutrient Status of Rice Grown Soils in Telangana State
G. Bhupal Raj
MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha, India.
Kasthuri Rajamani *
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
B. H. Kumara
AICRPDA Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapura, UAS Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Excessive N application may limit the crop yields, and it could be minimized by the use of Silicon in rice ecosystem. Initially, a survey was conducted and revealed that rice grown soils were low in available Si (73.62 to 96.41 kg SiO2 ha-1). As well as Si concentration of rice genotypes ranged from 1.54 to 3.15% and grain yield ranged from 2653 to 6860 kg ha-1 and exerted a significant positive correlation (r = 0.55**). Based on initial phase of results, a field experiment was conducted with each four levels of N (0, 80, 120 & 160 kg ha-1) and Si (0, 200, 400 & 600 kg ha-1). Among the N and Si doses, application of T16(N160 + Si600) recorded highest grain yield (7180 kg ha-1) and was on par with the treatments received N@120 and 160 kg ha-1 along with Si@200, 400 and 600 kg ha-1. The status of available nutrients viz., N, P2O5, K2O, SiO2, Zn, Cu, and N-fractions were obtained high with T16 (N160 + Si600), which was at par with the treatments of T15 (N160 + Si400) > T14 (N160 + Si200) > T12 (N120 + Si600) > T11 (N120 + Si400) > T10 (N120 + Si200).
Keywords: Silicon, nitrogen, rice genotypes, inorganic N fractions, nutrient status.