Effect of silicon on the morphology of shoots and roots of alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Z. G. Guo A B , H. X. Liu A , F. P. Tian A , Z. H. Zhang A and S. M. Wang AA Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem Ministry of Agriculture, College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City 730020, China.
B Corresponding author. Email: zhenggangguo200@yahoo.com.cn
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(9) 1161-1166 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05117
Submitted: 5 April 2005 Accepted: 28 October 2005 Published: 4 August 2006
Abstract
A silicon (Si)-deficient top soil was used in a pot experiment to investigate the effect of Si application on the shoot and root morphology of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Silicon was applied to the alfalfa plants at 6 different rates (0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 g/kg), and each treatment was replicated 6 times. This study indicated that the Si content of roots and shoots increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing Si concentration in the soil, and that the Si content of roots was greater than that of shoots. Plants treated with Si had increased leaf area, height, forage yield and shoots per plant during the reproductive period in comparison with controls. The application of Si also increased root volume, the number of secondary roots and root biomass. The effects of Si application were greater on roots than on shoots. The ratio of shoot to root dry weight was below 1.62 when Si was applied to plants and 1.91 without Si application. Overall, overcoming available Si deficiency resulted in a significant increase in shoot and root growth.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (30270947J0130084), Project of Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Application of Gansu Province, China(GNSW-2004–07), the 2005 Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem Ministry of Agriculture, and the program for New Century Excellent Talents, China (NCET-05-0882).
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