Effect of foliar spray of potassium silicate on growth and yield of paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2015-18 on same site at NAU, Navsari, to study the effect of foliar spray of potassium silicate on growth, yield and economics of paddy (Oryza sativa). Seven treatments were tested in complete randomize design with four replication. The foliar spray of 1.0 % potassium silicate at tillering, panicle initiation and grain formation stage recorded significantly superior panicle length (24.0), panicle weight (5.86 g), number of grain panicle (154.4), weight of grain panicle-1 (5.09 g), grain (4713 kg ha-1) and straw (6475 kg ha-1) yield as well as gross and net return over control. The lowest value of growth, yield attributes, yield and net return were recorded under control. The remarkably lowest stem borer infestation (1.37%), lodging percentage (0.85%) and sheath mite infestation (2.40%) were also found under the foliar spray of 1.5 % potassium silicate at tillering, panicle initiation and grain formation stage over control.