EFFECTS OF SILICON LEVELS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT IN SILTY LOAM SOIL

Silicon is the abundant mineral in soil, present exclusively in the form of silicic acid (H4SiO4). It is absorbed by plants in the form of silicic acid. The different levels of silicic acid were tested in a pot experiment to assess their effects on improvement of growth and yield in wheat. In a complete randomized block design the seeds of three varieties viz., Mehran, Abadgar and Kiran-95 were sown in pots filled with 2 kg of silty loam soil. The silicic acid was added to soil in a concentration of no silicic acid (T1), 0.25% silicic acid (T2), 0.50% silicic acid (T3) and 0.75% silicic acid (T4). The silicic acid concentrations affected crop positively as well as negatively as all the varieties produced highest plant growth and yield at 0.25% and 0.50% silicic acid application while the lowest plant growth and yield was found under 0.75% silicic acid. The highest plant growth and yield was observed in Abadgar followed by Mehran wheat variety.