Silicon attenuates abiotic stress caused by ammonium toxicity but not nitrogen deficiency in cotton plants. (11th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leal, Aguinaldo José Freitas; Barreto, Rafael Ferreira; de Mello Prado, Renato; da Silva Junior, Gabriel Barbosa; Barreto, Cláudio Ferreira; Santos, Luiz Cláudio Nascimento dos; Campos, Cid Naudi Silva
• Is Part Of: Journal of agronomy and crop science. Volume 207:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 774
• Page End: 781
• Publication Date: 2021-05-11
• Subjects: beneficial element -- Gossypium hirsutum -- nitrogen fertilization -- nutritional stress; Agronomy -- Periodicals; Crop science -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jac.12499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0931-2250

Abstract

Abstract: Although N - NO 3 ‐ predominates in many soils, compared to N - NH 4 +, the fluctuations in the forms and concentrations of N can expose to N deficiency in plants in general and NH 4 + toxicity in NH 4 + sensitive plants. However, a strategy to mitigate nutritional disorders of N is to utilize Si. We aimed to verify if Si attenuates N deficiency and NH 4 + toxicity in cotton plants grown in nutrient solution. The treatments followed a 5 × 2 factorial scheme, with five concentrations of NH 4 + (1.0; 7.5; 15.0; 22.5 and 30.0 mmol/L) combined with the absence and presence of Si (1 mmol/L), arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Without Si, the largest shoot dry mass occurred at 16 mmol/L NH 4 +, increased by 47%, compared to 1 mmol/L NH 4 + and decreased by 37% compared to 30 mmol/L NH 4 + . With Si, the largest shoot dry mass was observed at 20 mmol/L NH 4 +, increased by 52% compared to 1 mmol/L NH 4 + and decreased by 14% compared to 30 mmol/L NH 4 + . In addition, in the highest concentration of NH 4 +, plants with Si exhibited a higher shoot dry mass relative to plants with no Si supplementation due to decreased electrolyte leakage index and increased use efficiency of N and K. Cotton plants were tolerant to high NH 4 + concentrations (≈15 mmol/L). Si attenuates abiotic stress caused by NH 4 + toxicity (30 mmol/L) but not N deficiency in cotton plants.