Improvement of water use efficiency in wheat through potassium silicate fertilization

Water stress is a major threat to agriculture in the world and Pakistan. Among different approaches being used to combat the water stress, exogenous application of nutrients is much more important e.g. K+. The addition of Si in the growth medium is also beneficial to enhance the crop growth affected due to water stress. Si is reported to accumulate in the plant body and enables the plants to tolerate the water stress. Wheat an important cereal in Pakistan, commonly suffers from drought stress. A field experiment was conducted in the research area of Postgraduate Agriculture Research Station (PARS), University of Agriculture Faisalabad to study the role of silicon in improving water use efficiency of wheat. The seeds of wheat (CV-Sehar-2006) were sown using hand drill and 50 kg per ha seed rate was used. The recommended NPK dose was 85:80:40 kg per ha while silicon was applied @ 12 kg per ha. Six treatments were used i.e. two levels of silicon (0 and 12 kg per ha) and three levels of irrigations (4 irrigations, 3 irrigations and 2 irrigations). Data regarding shoot fresh and dry weight, K+ in shoot/grain and yield parameters were measured according to respective measurement protocols. Shoot fresh and dry weight was reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved the shoot fresh weight. Potassium concentration in shoot and grain was reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved K+ concentration in shoot and grain. Plant height was reduced by water stress which was improved by application of Si. The total and fertile numbers of tillers were reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved the number of tillers. Fertile tillers were reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved the total and fertile numbers of tillers. Number of spikelets per spike was reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved the number of spikelets per spike. Thousand grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield was reduced by water stress. Application of Si improved the thousand grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield. Application of Si improved the harvest index. Water stress significantly reduced plant growth including the fresh/dry shoot weight, potassium concentration in shoot/grain, plant height, number of tillers, fertile tillers, number of spikelets per spike, thousand grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index. Application of Si improved plant growth including the plant height, fresh/dry shoot weight, K+ concentration in shoot/grain, number of tillers, fertile tillers, number of spikelets per spike, thousand grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield and harvest index at full and deficit irrigations.