Effect of silicon fertilization on yield and photosynthetic attributes in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. hybrid).

An experiment has been conducted in a green house to study the effect of calcium silicate fertilizer on yield contributing parameters,photosynthetic characteristics and N,P,K and Si content in sugarcane variety ROC 22.The treatments included a control with traditional fertilizer(26g N + 1.76g P +20g K per pot) only and six levels of silicon (20,40,60,80,120 and 150 g / pot) plus same amount of traditional fertilizer.The added Ca-silicate increased photosynthesis,transpiration and stomatal conductance significantly over non amended control.The influence of Si amendment on N concentration showed a significant decreasing tendency.Leaf tissue concentration for phosphorus did not differed remarkably,either a little effect or a slight increase in concentration at varying levels of Si application has been observed,but leaf tissue Si content increased progressively with increasing Si concentration in the soils.Si amended treatments significantly increased yield in dry matter(26%-70%) and in cane yield(30%-66%) per pot over non amended control.Analysis of TVD leaves showed up to 2.64% Si content at the harvest stage in Si treated plants.