Effect of different doses of Silicon in foliar application for corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation in the area of Mariscal Francisco Solano López – Caaguazú, Paraguay

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is a very important element for grasses and for this reason the present research aims to evaluate the effect of different progressive doses of silicon in corn crops. It was carried out in the city of Mariscal Francisco Solano López - Caaguazú, Paraguay; this region has a Rhodic Kandiudox soil that is characterized by high production potential given its excellent physical properties. For the development of the research, the completely randomized block design (CRBD) was used, 5 treatments with 4 repetitions were used, covering 20 experimental units, which were established within a total area of 663 m2. silicon was applied at the V8 phenological stage, via foliar, and the treatments were: T1: control, T2: 0.5 kg / ha, T3: 1.0 kg / ha, T4: 1.5 kg / ha, T5: 2.0 kg / ha. The variables evaluated were plant height, ear length, weight of 1000 seeds and final yield in kg/ha. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and compared by the Tukey test with a probability of error of 5%. According to the results, for plant height no significant differences were obtained, however, for ear length and weight of 1000 seeds a p-value less than 0.05 was obtained, thus indicating that there was a significant difference between the treatments; with respect to final yield a difference of 4.9% was obtained between T1 and T5.