The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes
Climate change is leading to a decline in global potato production. To ensure food security, it is essential to adapt cultivation practices to the changing climate. The effects of foliar-applied silicon on potato growth and productivity under various hydrothermal conditions were investigated. Potato...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Wanda Wadas Tomasz Kondraciuk |
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| description | Climate change is leading to a decline in global potato production. To ensure food security, it is essential to adapt cultivation practices to the changing climate. The effects of foliar-applied silicon on potato growth and productivity under various hydrothermal conditions were investigated. Potato plants were treated with three Si-based biostimulants: Actisil (6 g of Si and 20 g of Ca per liter; choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid; Chol-sSa + Ca); Krzemix (6 g of Si per liter; choline-stabilized ammonium metasilicate; Chol-sNH<sub>4</sub>-Sil); and Optysil (93 g of Si and 24 g of Fe per liter; sodium metasilicate and iron chelate Fe-EDTA; Na-Sil + Fe-EDTA). Biostimulants were foliar-applied twice, at the leaf development stage (BBCH 13–15) and two weeks after the first treatment, at 0.5 L/ha in each treatment. The plants treated with biostimulants were taller and produced greater above-ground biomass and a higher tuber weight than the control plants (without a biostimulant). As a result, the total tuber yield was higher, on average, by 10% to 13% and the marketable tuber yield by 11% to 15%. The plant-growth-promoting and yield-increasing effects of the Si-based biostimulants depended on the hydrothermal conditions during potato growth. Chol-sSA + Ca (Actisil) applications were the most effective. Na-Sil + Fe-EDTA (Optysil) produced better results during a warm and very dry year, while Chol-sNH<sub>4</sub>-Sil (Krzemix) was effective during colder years with a periodic water deficit. Silicon foliar application can be a new method for increasing early crop potato yields under water shortage conditions. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-6f5e650e4ebc49ffaaf5d1fceda4cf452025-08-20T02:05:23ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-03-0115555610.3390/agriculture15050556The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early PotatoesWanda Wadas0Tomasz Kondraciuk1Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Siedlce, 14 B. Prusa, 08-110 Siedlce, PolandInstitute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Siedlce, 14 B. Prusa, 08-110 Siedlce, PolandClimate change is leading to a decline in global potato production. To ensure food security, it is essential to adapt cultivation practices to the changing climate. The effects of foliar-applied silicon on potato growth and productivity under various hydrothermal conditions were investigated. Potato plants were treated with three Si-based biostimulants: Actisil (6 g of Si and 20 g of Ca per liter; choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid; Chol-sSa + Ca); Krzemix (6 g of Si per liter; choline-stabilized ammonium metasilicate; Chol-sNH<sub>4</sub>-Sil); and Optysil (93 g of Si and 24 g of Fe per liter; sodium metasilicate and iron chelate Fe-EDTA; Na-Sil + Fe-EDTA). Biostimulants were foliar-applied twice, at the leaf development stage (BBCH 13–15) and two weeks after the first treatment, at 0.5 L/ha in each treatment. The plants treated with biostimulants were taller and produced greater above-ground biomass and a higher tuber weight than the control plants (without a biostimulant). As a result, the total tuber yield was higher, on average, by 10% to 13% and the marketable tuber yield by 11% to 15%. The plant-growth-promoting and yield-increasing effects of the Si-based biostimulants depended on the hydrothermal conditions during potato growth. Chol-sSA + Ca (Actisil) applications were the most effective. Na-Sil + Fe-EDTA (Optysil) produced better results during a warm and very dry year, while Chol-sNH<sub>4</sub>-Sil (Krzemix) was effective during colder years with a periodic water deficit. Silicon foliar application can be a new method for increasing early crop potato yields under water shortage conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/5/556soluble silicon formsfoliar sprayingpotato growthtuber yieldsustainable crop productionfood security |
| spellingShingle | Wanda Wadas Tomasz Kondraciuk The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes Agriculture soluble silicon forms foliar spraying potato growth tuber yield sustainable crop production food security |
| title | The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes |
| title_full | The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes |
| title_short | The Role of Foliar-Applied Silicon in Improving the Growth and Productivity of Early Potatoes |
| title_sort | role of foliar applied silicon in improving the growth and productivity of early potatoes |
| topic | soluble silicon forms foliar spraying potato growth tuber yield sustainable crop production food security |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/5/556 |
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