Potential Applications of Silicate Solubilizing Bacteria and Potassium Silicate on Sugarcane Crop under Drought Condition

Abstract

The decline of soil nutrient status and productivity of crops, and restoration of soil health is a key global concern. Crop yields are reduced by soil degradation, which endangers the world's food supply. Crop yields and soil health are further decreased by improper fertilizers use in conjunction with intense cropping. A wide variety of plants, particularly monocotyledonous crops can collect significant levels of silicon in their organs showing the benefits of silicon in terms of growth, biomass, and yield, whereas most dicots are unable to accumulate enough Si under their epidermal system. In the present investigation, treatment of applying silica solubilizer at a rate of 12.5 kg with 50 kg FYM/ha in soil with sett treatment of 0.5% K2SiO3,2.5% urea and potash foliar spray in a specified time showed a significant result in all the growth and yield parameters tested when plant and its ratoon were in drought condition.