The role of applying silicon fertilizer to rice, the dosage per mu, and precautions

Silicon is called the fourth nutrient element. As rice yields continue to increase, especially in areas where the soil's available silicon content is not rich, applying silicon fertilizer to rice has become an effective measure for stable and high yields. So what effect does silicon fertilizer have on rice? How much to use per mu? What precautions are there? Next, let us learn about it together.

What effect does silicon fertilizer have on rice?

1. Silicon fertilizer can increase rice yield and improve rice quality

Most paddy soils in the north are albic soils and meadow soils. Old paddy fields take up large amounts of silicon from the soil every year, causing severe silicon deficiency in the paddy fields. Rice grows poorly, with slender and weak stems; leaves change from upright to weeping willow-like leaves; there are many empty and shriveled grains, the 1000-grain weight decreases, lodging occurs easily, and pests and diseases such as rice blast and striped stem borer occur easily.

2. Silicon fertilizer helps improve rice photosynthesis

After rice absorbs silicon, silicified cells are formed, enhancing cell wall strength, making the plant's mechanical tissues well developed, the plant type upright, and the stems and leaves erect. The angle between rice stems and leaves is reduced by 25.4 degrees, which helps ventilation, improves light penetration and dense planting, improves photosynthesis on the rice leaf surface, and favors the accumulation of organic matter, thereby increasing rice grain yield.

3. Silicon fertilizer can enhance rice's ability to resist pests and diseases

The formation of silicified cells thickens the surface cell walls of rice and increases the cuticle, thereby enhancing resistance to pests and diseases, with relatively significant effects especially on rice blast, rice sheath blight, and rice brown spot.

4. Silicon fertilizer can improve rice lodging resistance and root oxidation capacity

Silicon can enhance the strength of the straw at the base of the plant, increase the rigidity of the rice vessels, improve the internal aeration of the rice plant, thereby enhancing the oxidation capacity of the root system and preventing premature root senescence and rot. Well-developed roots in turn enhance the lodging resistance of rice.

5. Silicon fertilizer can enhance rice cold resistance and low-temperature resistance

The silicified cells in rice plants can effectively regulate the opening and closing of leaf stomata and water transpiration. After applying silicon fertilizer, the drought resistance, cold resistance, and low-temperature resistance of rice are enhanced.

6. Silicon can activate phosphorus in the soil and improve the utilization rate of phosphate fertilizer by rice

Silicon can reduce the fixation of phosphate fertilizer in the soil, while activating phosphorus in the soil and promoting the movement of phosphorus within the rice plant, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of phosphate fertilizer and the seed-setting rate of rice.

7. Silicon fertilizer has effects such as improving the soil

Silicon fertilizer can prevent the toxic harm of heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, and methane. Silicon fertilizer can promote the decomposition of organic fertilizer and inhibit the occurrence of soil pests and diseases.

How much to use per mu?

1. The application rate of silicon fertilizer should be determined according to the available silicon content of the soil in different plots and the water-soluble silicon content of the silicon fertilizer. Soil severely deficient in silicon can be given a suitably larger amount, while soil mildly deficient in silicon should be given less. For water-soluble silicon fertilizer with an available silicon content of 50-60%, 6-10 kg can be applied per mu; for steel slag silicon fertilizer with an available silicon content of 30-40%, 30-50 kg can be applied per mu; for those with an available silicon content below 30%, 50-100 kg can be applied per mu.

2. Timing of use: use when preparing the field. It can also be broadcast as a topdressing. Since it is insoluble in water, it will adhere to the soil surface, and during the rainy season when water is released, it may be carried away by the water.

What precautions are there for applying silicon fertilizer?

1. It must be used in combination with other fertilizers. Silicon fertilizer cannot replace nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Only by scientifically applying nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and silicon fertilizers in combination can good results be obtained.

2. Silicon fertilizer cannot be mixed with or applied at the same time as ammonium bicarbonate. Silicon fertilizer will cause the ammonia in ammonium bicarbonate to volatilize, reducing the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer and causing unnecessary waste.

3. Silicon fertilizer can improve the soil and is cheap, so it is best to apply it continuously every season.