Silicon in Agriculture

425 Pages·2001·20.23 MB·English

by  L.E. Datnoff

Silicon in Agriculture
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Studies in Plant Science, 8
Silicon in Agriculture
Edited by
L.E. Datnoff
University of Florida, IFAS, Belle Glade, USA
G.H. Snyder
University of Florida, IFAS, Belle Glade, USA
G.H. Kornd6rfer
Universidade Federal de Uberl~ndia, Uberl~ndia, Brazil
2001
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First edition 2001
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Preface
Silicon continues to be an anomaly, an under appreciated element, despite decades of research
by many scientists. Most plant scientists still view it as not being essential for plant function.
Nevertheless, in certain plant species, silicon is absorbed as Si(OH)4 from soil in large amounts
that are higher than that of"essential macronutrients". For example, the uptake of silicon is about
twice that of nitrogen in rice. Although not considered essential for plant growth and
development, silicon can benefit plant growth through greater yields (cucumber, rice and
sugarcane). Silicon also can be very useful, especially when these plants are under abiotic or
biotic stress. Silicon may enhance soil fertility, improve disease and pest resistance, increase
photosynthesis, improve plant architecture, regulate evapotranspiration, increase tolerance to
toxic elements such as Fe and Mn, and reduce frost damage.
Recognizing that it was time to bring researchers together from around the world to better
understand this silicon anomaly and to discuss the role of silicon for promoting plant health and
soil productivity, the first international conference on Silicon in Agriculture was organized by the
University of Florida and the Federal University of Uberlandia. Over 90 participants representing
scientist, growers and producers of silicon fertilizers attended the conference. Sixty-two papers
(22 invited oral, 40 volunteered poster) were presented. This book contains the full text of the
invited papers and abstracts of the posters. As such, it represents a consolidated summary of our
current understanding of silicon in agriculture. In preparing the manuscripts, the authors were
asked to summarize their very latest published and unpublished data and knowledge. In particular
they were encouraged to speculate on the implications of their knowledge and propose hypotheses
for testing and to suggest further areas for research. We hope that this combination of in-depth
chapters and abstracts will serve as a reference and guide for silicon researchers in agriculture for
years to come.
Although the SI system (Systeme International d'Unites) for reporting measurements is used
by all authors, certain colloquialisms inherent to the various countries involved in the conference
appear. Thus, Mg, MT, and T all refer to the metric ton (1000 kg), and TC refers to tons of
sugarcane. Concentrations of nutrients in plant tissue may be cited as % or as g kg -~, and the
relationship of one measurement to another may be given as X/Y or as X y-I (e.g. g/kg or g kgl).
Variations in the spelling of English-language words inherent to certain countries also appear
(e.g., fertilizer, fertiliser). We hope that rather than causing confusion, the reader will regard these
inconsistencies as an interesting aspect of international collaboration.
We could never have brought so many people together from so many countries without the
assistance of several dedicated people and sponsors. Drs. Emanuel Epstein and Richard Belanger
helped in identifying speakers and participants. Financial and logistical support was generously
provided by University of Florida-IFAS, United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign
Agricultural Service, Calcium Silicate Corporation, Rhodia, and PQ Corporation.
We also would like to thank Dr. Christopher W. Deren, Ms. Janice Collins and Ms. Brenda
VI
Rutherford for their helpful reviews and Mr. Norman Harrison for helping with preparation of
figures. Ms. Collins also was instrumental in collating and formatting the text.
Finally, we would like to thank the conference participants and the authors. It is through their
interest, dedication and efforts that the conference and this volume were such a success.
L. E. Datnoff G. H. Komdorfer
G. H. Snyder Federal University of Uberlandia
University of Florida-IFAS Uberlandia, MG
Everglades Research and Education Center Brazil
Belle Glade, FL
USA
VII
The Editors
Dr. Lawrence E. Datnoffis Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Everglades Research
and Education Center. Since 1988, he has been studying the role of silicon for plant disease control
in rice in Florida, USA, Colombia and Brazil, and in turfgrass in Florida, USA. His interests have
included understanding the interactions of silicon with fungicides, residual effects of silicon on
disease development, enhancement of host plant resistance and the mechanism(s) of resistance. Dr.
Datnoffis a former Associate Editor of Plant Disease, a section Editor for Fungicide and Nematicide
Tests, a Fulbright Scholar, and a recipient of the University of Florida-Institute for Food and
Agricultural Sciences' Interdisciplinary Team Research Award.
Dr. George H. Snyder is Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, University of Florida, Everglades
Research and Education Center and a University of Florida Research Foundation Professor. Since
1979, he has been studying the role of silicon fertilization for rice and sugarcane grown on organic
and sand soils in Florida, USA, and on Oxisols in other countries. In addition to plant responses,
his interests have included soil testing for plant-available silicon, silicon analysis of plant tissue, and
evaluation of various potential silicon fertilizers. Dr. Snyder is an Associate Editor of Crop Science,
Past-President of the Florida Soil and Crop Science Society, and a Fellow of the American Society
of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America, and a recipient of the University of Florida-
Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences' Interdisciplinary Team Research Award.
Dr. Gaspar H. Kornd6rfer is Professor of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Federal University of
Uberlfindia, Brazil. Since 1994, he has been studying the role of silicon fertilization for sugarcane,
rice and pasture in Brazil and Florida, USA. His interests have included silicon plant responses,
evaluation of potential silicon sources, soil testing for plant-available silicon, and the influence of
silicon on plant tolerance to water stress. Dr. Kornd6rfer is a CNPq Scholar, a recipient of the
University of Florida-Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences' Interdisciplinary Team Research
Award, and teaches a graduate course entitled "Use of Fertilizer and Residues in Agriculture".
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IX
Contributors
J. Alvarez, University of Florida-IFAS, Everglades Research & Education Center, P. O. Box
8003, Belle Glade, FL 33430 USA
M. P. Barbosa Filho, Embrapa Arroz e Feijfio, Santo Antonio de Goifis, GO, Brazil
R. R. Brlanger, Centre de Recherche en Horticulture, Department de Phytologie, University
Laval, Qurbec, Canada G 1K 7P4
S. Berthelsen, CSIRO Land & Water, Davies Laboratory, Private Mail Bag, P. O., Aitkenvale,
Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4810
E. A. Boeharnikova, Institute Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Pushchino, 142292, Russia
M. Chrrif, Institute National Agronomique de Tunisia, Laboratoire de phytopathologie, 43, Av.
Charles Nicolle, 1082, Cit6 Mahrajene, Tunis, Tunisie
F. J. Correa-Vietoria, Rice & Hillside Projects, Centra International de Agricultura Tropical,
CIAT, AA 6713, Cali, Colombia
L. E. Datnoff, University of Florida-IFAS, Everglades Research & Education Center, P. O. Box
8003, Belle Glade, FL 33430 USA
C. W. Deren, University of Florida-IFAS, Everglades Research & Education Center, P. O. Box
8003, Belle Glade, FL 33430 USA
E. Epstein, Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, Soils and Biogeochemistry,
University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616-8627, USA
D. L. Egret, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada
A. Fawe, Station Frdrrale de Recherche en Production Vrgrtale de Changins, Drpartement de
Grnie Grnrtique, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland
M. C. Filippi, Embrapa Arroz e Feijao, Santo Antonio de Goifis, GO, Brazil
D. K. Friesen, Maize Program, Centra International de Maiz y Trigo, CIMMYT, P. O. Box
25171, Nairobi, Kenya
A. L. Garside, Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture (BSES), Davies Laboratory, Private Mail Bag,
P. O., Aitkenvale, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4814
G. J. Gaseho, Department of Crop & Soil Sciences Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University
of Georgia, P. O. Box 748, Tifton, GA, 31793-0748, USA
M. J. Hodson, School of Biological & Molecular Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy
Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX30BP, United Kingdom
K. Ishiguro, Tohoku National Agricultural Experiment Station, Shimo-Kuriyagawa, Morioka,
Japan 020-0198
M. Keeping, SASA Experiment Station, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa
4300
S. D. Kinrade, Department of Chemistry, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 5E 1,
Canada
C. T. G. Knight, Silicate Solutions Consulting, Inc., P. O. Box 2403, Santa Barbara CA 93120-
2403, USA
G. H. Korndiirfer, Universidade Federal de UberlS.ndia, Caixa Postal 593, Uberlfindia-38.400-
902, Brazil