Silicon-phosphorus interactions in soils cultivated with bean plants

Abstract

Aiming to evaluate the effects of doses silicon and phosphorus on the phosphate nutrition and production in bean plants, two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse using two soils, Orthic Quartzarenic Neosol (RQo) and Dystroferric Red Latosol (LVdf). Each soil was subjected to three incubation sequences: the first with lime to raise the base saturation to 50%, the second with silicic acid, Si with three doses (0, 240 and 410 and 0, 330 and 560 mg dm-3, respectively, for RQo and LVdf) and the third with basic fertilisation, including phosphorus at four different doses (0, 80, 240 and 410 and 0, 110, 330 and 560 mg dm-3 for RQo and LVdf, respectively). The experiment was performed using a completely randomised 3 x 4 factorial, with four replications. The application of Si did not influence the dry matter production of the aerial part (APDM) or the grain dry matter (DGM) and P accumulation in the aerial part of the bean plants, yet the higher doses of Si increased the accumulation of Si in the APDM. The application of P increased the yield of the APDM and DGM and phosphorus accumulation in the APDM of the bean plants.