Identifying Varietal Differences for Silicon Mediated Improvement of Leaf Architecture and Plant Growth in Rice

Purpose Silicon (Si) is acquainted as an adjuvant plant nutrient element especially on rice; however, the differences among rice varieties for Si response yet not documented at coastal ecosystem like in south and south-east Asia. The objective of the experiment was to identify differences among rice varieties for Si mediated improvement of leaf erectness and its relationship to plant growth and yield. Methodology The study was under taken in wet season of 2021at the Department of Soil Science of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. The pot culture based study was designed at two-factorial completely randomized design having replicated thrice. Two doses of Si @ 0 and 100 mg kg −1 soil, and four rice varieties having BRRI dhan76, BRRI dhan77, Moulata and Sadamota were tested in the study. The source of Si was calcium silicate (CaSiO 3 ), and 100 mg Si was equivalent of 413 mg calcium silicate. Results All the rice varieties had better performance in Si amended treatment. The rice variety BRRI dhan76, BRRI dhan77, Moulata and Sadamota recorded shoot dry weight by12.74, 23.00, 26.43 and 8.29 g pot −1 in 100 mg Si kg −1 soil treatment, which were 26.6, 28.6, 57.3 and 0.12% higher than their respective control. Silicon application significantly improves leaf architecture making leaves more erect. Moulata and BRRI dhan77 significantly increased other plant parameters including leaf area index by 47.5 and 26.6%, shoot Si uptake by 80.1 and 23.4%, root Si uptake by 59.2 and 42.1%, and total Si uptake by 77.2 and 38.5% over control, respectively. Conclusion The rice variety Moulata and BRRI dhan77 were identified as highly Si responsive crops.