African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Full Length Research Paper

Is silicon capable to affect the photosynthetic performance of green maize plants?

Raquel Caroline dos Santos
  • Raquel Caroline dos Santos
  • Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Centre of Natural Sciences (CCN), Federal University of São Carlos (CCN-UFSCar), Buri Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil.
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Marta Donato de Souza
  • Marta Donato de Souza
  • Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Centre of Natural Sciences (CCN), Federal University of São Carlos (CCN-UFSCar), Buri Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Giovana Michele da Cruz
  • Giovana Michele da Cruz
  • Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Centre of Natural Sciences (CCN), Federal University of São Carlos (CCN-UFSCar), Buri Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar
Daniel Baron
  • Daniel Baron
  • Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Centre of Natural Sciences (CCN), Federal University of São Carlos (CCN-UFSCar), Buri Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 06 May 2019
  •  Accepted: 21 June 2019
  •  Published: 25 July 2019

Abstract

Green maize (Zea mays L.) is a cultivated species of significant importance in the agricultural scene. The literature reports that Si has been used as an alternative option for sustainable agricultural systems. We examined the hypothesis that this beneficial element will improve the photosynthetic performance and biological productivity of crop plants, under field conditions, without nutritional stress. In this context, leaf gas exchanges, physiological indexes, and growth parameters were investigated in green maize, AG4051 and CATIVERDE 02, under Si availabilities at the initial stage of vegetative development. The treatments were: Via shoot; 0, 130, 260, 390 and 520 g ha-1; and via roots; 0, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 kg ha-1. The experimental design was randomized blocks (RB) with 5 blocks (experimental plots). The beneficial mineral element Si did not have an improvement on gas exchanges of green maize plants and, consequently, plant development. In conclusion, we reject our initial hypothesis and we accepted the alternative hypothesis, that the beneficial element Si did not optimize the photosynthetic performance and biological productivity of green maize plants, without nutritional stress.

Key words: Leaf gas exchange, silicon, sustainability, zea mays l.