Effects of Silicon-Based Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Rice in Tropical Zone of Vietnam

Application of silicon (Si) could greatly boost rice yield and mitigate abiotic stress, especially drought. A field experiment was conducted during 2015 at the research farm of Hong Duc University, Thanh Hoa City, Vietnam, to evaluate the effects of five different combined doses of standard fertilizer practice and Si fertilizer on growth, yield and yield components, as well as nutrient uptake of rice. The treatments consisted of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF, 110 kg/hm2 N + 90 kg/hm2 P2O5 + 80 kg/hm2 K2O) as the control, RDF + 100 kg/hm2 SiO2, RDF + 200 kg/hm2 SiO2, RDF + 300 kg/hm2 SiO2 and RDF + 400 kg/hm2 SiO2. The results showed that the growth, grain and straw yields as well as yield components (number of grains per panicle, seed-setting rate and 1000-grain weight) were significantly affected by Si application. The highest grain yield of 3 705 kg/hm2 was obtained with the highest level of Si fertilizer in combination with RDF (RDF + 400 kg/hm2 SiO2), however, it was statistically at par with the yields obtained with RDF + 300 kg/hm2 SiO2 (3 664 kg/hm2) and RDF + 200 kg/hm2 SiO2 (3 621 kg/hm2). The optimum dose of Si fertilizer with maximized grain yield (3 716 kg/hm2) was 329 kg/hm2 SiO2. The nutrient (Si, N, P and K) uptakes of rice were also significantly enhanced by Si application. Si application at the level of 329 kg/hm2 along with RDF would help in the sustainable production of rice in the tropical zone of Vietnam.