Influence of silicon in papaya plant growth

Abstract

Study on the effect of foliar fertilization with silicon on the growth and dry matter accumulation of papaya plants. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions from December 2012 to March 2013. The treatments consisted of five concentrations of silicon (0 (control); 1; 2; 3 and 4 mL L^-1) applied to papaya leaves in a completely randomized design and four replications, totaling 20 experimental units. The genotype of papaya Tainung-1 (Formosa group) was used, which was grown for 90 days after sowing and received three foliar fertilization with silicon at 45, 60 and 75 days after sowing. Foliar fertilization with potassium silicate concentrations resulted in papaya plants more vigorous, with less stress to biotic and abiotic factors in this experiment. The concentration of 2.2 mL L^-1 silicon on average promoted better growth and dry matter accumulation in roots of papaya plants.