Effect of Silicon Application on Growth, Development and Grain Yield of Rice Genotypes under Water Stress

Author: D. Snehalatha, J. Bharghavi, P. Raghuveer Rao and C.V. Sameer Kumar

Download PDF

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a main cereal crop and a staple food across the world. Drought is one of the most critical limiting factors for rice production, which adversely affects food security globally. Silica reduces oxidative damage in plants under stress by enhancing antioxidant activity. The integration of silica in breeding programs is also recommended to improve the quality of yield and to provide drought-tolerant rice cultivars under drought-stress conditions. The present investigation evaluated the impact of silicon application in alleviating water stress of rice genotypes. The results revealed that water stress significantly reduced leaf area index, chlorophyll content, total dry matter, spikelets, number of filled grains and grain yield. In comparison with control, silicon application (T2) has increased LAI by 39.63%, SCMR value by 2.85%, total dry matter by 23.63%, panicle weight by 24.66%, number of filled grains by 24.21%, number of spikelets panicle-1 by 16.34% and grain yield by 10.60%; water stress alone (T3) reduced LAI by 2.51%, SCMR value by 2.19%, total dry matter by 21.93%, panicle weight by 41.43%, number of filled grains by 43.20%, number of spikelets panicle-1 by 33.74% and grain yield by 40.88%; while silicon + water stress (T4) enhanced LAI by 30.26%, SCMR value by 1.64%, total dry matter by 1.06% and reduced panicle weight by 23.53%, number of filled grains by 18.39%, number of spikelets panicle-1 by 18.48%, grain yield by 19.24%. In conclusion, silicon application has reduced the adverse impacts of water stress on rice and improved the growth and development under both well-watered and water stress conditions compared to water stress alone. Hence, silicon application can be adopted as a cost-effective strategy to mitigate the negative impacts of drought in rice and to improve the yield potential of rice genotypes.

Keywords

Silicon, water stress, leaf area index, grain yield and rice

Conclusion

Silicon application has enhanced the growth and grain yield of rice under both well-watered and water stress conditions. Hence, silicon application can be adopted as a cost-effective strategy to enhance growth, development, grain yield and its attributes such as leaf area index, chlorophyll content, biomass, culm strength, grain number and panicle weight.

References

-

How to cite this article

D. Snehalatha, J. Bharghavi, P. Raghuveer Rao and C.V. Sameer Kumar (2023). Effect of Silicon Application on Growth, Development and Grain Yield of Rice Genotypes under Water Stress. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8a): 507-513.