Effect of Foliar and Root Silicon Supply on Yielding and Gray Mold Incidence in Strawberry Pot Cultivation

Zbigniew Jarosz, Katarzyna Dzida, Zofia Zydlik, Magdalena Jarosz, Szymon Kamiński and Karolina Pitura ()
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Zbigniew Jarosz: Institute of Horticultural Production, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Katarzyna Dzida: Institute of Horticultural Production, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Zofia Zydlik: Department of Ornamental Plant, Dendrology and Pomology, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Bioengineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Magdalena Jarosz: Berry Farm Magdalena Jarosz, Uniszowice 42, 21-030 Motycz, Poland
Szymon Kamiński: Horticulture Farm Szymon Kamiński, Jajkowice 32, 96-208 Lubania, Poland
Karolina Pitura: Institute of Horticultural Production, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Climate changes increase environmental stress pressure, limiting the yields of crops, e.g., strawberries. The green transformation introduced in the European Union, eliminating the use of chemical plant protection agents, requires the development of a technology that will simultaneously mitigate stresses and increase plant yields. The basis of this type of technology may be the targeted application of stabilized orthosilicic acid. The validation of this silicon-based technology was carried out through the pot cultivation of strawberries cv. ‘Falco’ in controlled conditions, compatible with their production. The experiment consisted of the foliar and intra-root (A) application of stabilized orthosilicic acid at concentrations of 0, 240, and 360 g Si·ha −1 (B). A significant increase in the total and marketable yield, the weight of single fruits, and the number of fruits in the silicon-treated variants was noted in this study. The intra-root application of silicon had a more potent effect on the yield performance than foliar feeding. The intra-root application of the tested silicon doses significantly reduced the occurrence of gray mold ( Botrytis cinerea ) during the fruit harvest period. The application of the tested silicon doses in strawberry cultivation exerted a positive effect on the post-harvest shelf life of the fruits. Higher levels of Lascorbic acid, nitrates (V), and TSS were determined in strawberry fruits treated with stabilized orthosilicic acid. The leaves of plants treated with stabilized orthosilicic acid had lower contents of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and boron and higher levels of potassium and copper.

Keywords: stabilized orthosilicic acid; marketable yield; Botrytis cinerea incidence; shelf life of fruits; foliar feeding; fertigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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