Basal application of different sources of silicon fertilizers to enhance biochemical factors in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Four silicon sources viz., rice husk ash, bagasse ash, calcium silicate, sodium metasilicate each at the rate of 500 and 1000 kg/ha were incorporated as basal application in two sugarcane fields of Poovanthi and Silaiman village of Sivagangai and Madurai district respectively. Leaves from the silicon treated plants were collected at 90,180 and 270 d after planting for analysis of biochemical factors which revealed that the silicon content in the Poovanthi village was ranged from 1.18 to 1.77% and that of Silaiman village was 1.28 to 1.78%. Similarly phenol content ranged from 7.68 to 10.33 mg/g and 10.49 to 12.85 mg/g, tannin content ranged from 4.21 to 6.32 and 4.70 to 7.03 mg/g, peroxidase activity ranged from 32.18 to 38.60 and 38.07 to 44.38 Δ₄₆₀/min/mg and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity ranged from 29.93 to 36.85 and 36.31 to 44.48 Δ₂₉₀/µmol m⁻¹mL⁻¹g⁻¹ in the fields of Poovanthi and Silaiman village respectively. Among the four sources of silicon fertilizers tested, basal application of calcium silicate at 500 kg/ha was found effective in facilitating the maximum accumulation of silicon content along with phenol, tannin content, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity.