Growth, Nutrient Accumulation, and Drought Tolerance in Crop Plants with Silicon Application: A Review

Rafea Sultana Rea, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Bibhash Nath and Ken Mix
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Rafea Sultana Rea: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam: Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman: Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, College of Engineering Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
Bibhash Nath: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA
Ken Mix: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Plants take up silicon (Si) from the soil which impacts their growth and nutrient accumulation. It increases plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal, diseases, and pest infestation. However, until recently, research of Si application on the crop is limited. This article reviews the recent progress of research on Si application on crop growth and yield, nutrient availability in soil and accumulation, and drought tolerance of crop plants. The review’s findings show that Si improves crop development and output under stressful environmental conditions. Silicon increases the availability and accumulation of both macronutrients (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and sulphur) and micronutrients (iron and manganese). It improves drought resistance by increasing plant water usage efficiency and reducing water loss during transportation. Silicon application is a crucial aspect of crop productivity because of all of these favorable attributes. The gaps in current understandings are identified. Based on the outcome of the present research, future scopes of research on this field are proposed.

Keywords: growth; nutrients; drought; silicon; plants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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