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Effect of foliar application of silicon on yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under deficit irrigation conditions
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Ali Hamdi Shengri   , Afrasyab Rahnama , Ali Monsefi , Habib Alah Roshanfekr , Hossein Noroozi |
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Abstract: (28 Views) |
Introduction: Drought stress is one of the major environmental constraints affecting growth, yield, and sugar production of sugarcane. Due to its high-water demand, sugarcane is highly sensitive to water deficiency, leading to significant reduction in yield under deficit irrigation conditions. Silicon-based nanoparticles, particularly nanosilica, have gained attention for their effective role for enhancing plant tolerance to environmental stresses. This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of nanoparticles silica and sodium silicate on the yield and qualitative traits of sugarcane under irrigation interval treatments.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in split-plot arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications using CP69-1062 cultivar during the 2024-2025 growing season. The main plots included three irrigation intervals (7, 10, and 13 days) and the sub-plots included five levels of foliar application: without application (control), nano silica at concentrations of 150 and 300 mg.l-1, sodium silicate at concentrations of 300 and 600 mg.l-1. Cane length, number of millable stem, intermode length, cane yield, water productivity, and juice quality characteristics such as sucrose content (Pol), dissolved particles (Brix), purity, white sugar content, and sugar yield were measured and recorded.
Results: Results showed that cane length, cane yield, number of millable stem, sugar yield and juice quality, white sugar content, Brix, Pol, and juice purity significantly decreased by increased irrigation interval. The sugar yield significantly decreased under irrigation after 10 and 13 days by 15.8% and 41.8%, respectively, compared to irrigation after 7 days. The highest cane yield (141 ton.ha-1) obtained with 300 mg.l⁻¹ nano silica under the 7 day irrigation interval, and the lowest cane yield (70 ton.ha-1) belonged to the control treatment under the 13 day irrigation interval. Foliar application of nano silica, particularly at 300 mg.l-1, alleviated the negative effects of deficit irrigation and effectively enhanced sugar yield by 20.7%, when compared to nano silica -deficient plants. The application of 300 mg.l-1 nano silica showed the highest cane and sugar yield, and water productivity through increases in the number of millable stem, cane height and intermode length. The highest water productivity (3.8 kg.m-3) achieved at 300 mg.l-1 nano silica and 600 mg.l-1 sodium silicate under the 10 day irrigation interval. The positive effect of silicon, especially nano silica, was maintained by increased irrigation interval, but the cane yield decreased. However, foliar application of nano silica, especially at 300 mg.l-1, effectively reduced the adverse effects of deficit irrigation.
Conclusions: Foliar application of silica nanoparticles, particularly at a concentration of 300 mg.l-1, effectively reduced the negative effects of water deficit stress on sugarcane. The results of this experiment provides evidence that foliar application of exogenous silica nanoparticles (300 mg.l-1 nano silica) can be an effective strategy in improvement of sugarcane productivity and quality properties under deficit irrigation conditions. To confirm the sustainability of these effects and optimize their large-scale application, conducting long-term field experiments focusing on cane yield, sugar yield, and water use efficiency is recommended.
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| Keywords: Brix, Cane yield, Juice purity, Nano silica particles, Pol and Sugarcane |
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Full-Text [PDF 1087 kb]
(13 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Scientific & Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/15 | Accepted: 2025/07/18 | Published: 2025/10/27
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Hamdi Shengri A, Rahnama A, Monsefi A, Roshanfekr H A, Noroozi H. Effect of foliar application of silicon on yield and quality of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under deficit irrigation conditions. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 2025; 27 (1) :23-39 URL: http://agrobreedjournal.ir/article-1-1412-en.html
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