Silicon fertilization in sugarcane: effect of varieties and drought stress

• Grant number: 14/21872-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Sartori de Camargo
• Grantee: Andréa Lage de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Silicon is a beneficial element, which could be important to water stress tolerance in sugarcane, specially new areas of cultivation located in sandy and loamy sandy soils. The objectives are evaluate the effect of silicon and water stress given at summer and winter season in drought tolerant and susceptible cultivars on Si uptake and its relationship among biometric and physiological attributes. Two experiments will be carried out in pots(20 L) under greenhouse conditions in randomized blocks using Si rates(0 and 800 kg ha-1 Si), 4 varieties (2 susceptible and 2 drought tolerant) in soil with low soluble Si content and 4 replications. After five months, drought stress will be done during 28 days. Before and after drought stress (7, 14, 21 and 28 days)will be evaluate height, number of total and green leaves, number of tillers, foliar area and SPAD index. After 28 days, it will be also evaluate fresh and dry matter, diameter, number and lenght of internodes, Si concentration and uptake by plant, soil fertility evaluation and soluble Si (0.5 mol L-1 acetic acid and 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2).