Phosphorus and silicon effects on growth, yield, and phosphorus forms in potato plants

Abstract

Silicon (Si) can increase phosphorus (P) use efficiency (PUE) by increasing P availability in the soil and altering P metabolism in the plant, thus resulting in improved yield under low soil P conditions. The objective was to evaluate the effect of P (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg dm⁻³) and Si (0, 50, and 200 mg dm⁻³) interrelationship on P and Si uptake by plants, forms of P in leaves and tubers, plant growth, and tuber yield of potato plants. Silicon supply increased organic and inorganic P in the leaves. At low soil P rates, Si also increased organic P in the tubers. However, alterations in the P metabolism of potato plants with Si supply did not promote significant changes in dry matter (DM) production and tuber yield. Phosphate fertilization increased growth and yield of plants. Silicon uptake by the plants were also increased by phosphate fertilization with soil Si supply.

Keywords:

• mineral nutrition
• nutrient interaction
• phosphorus use efficiency
• silicon
• Solanum tuberosum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Thanks to National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for supporting this research (Grant No. 456122/2014-1) and providing an award for excellence in research to the first author. Thanks to São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for supporting this research (Grant No. 2013/04683-5) and providing scholarships to the second (Grant No. 2013/04683-5) and forth (Grant No. 2013/21567-9) authors. We are also grateful to the Brazilian Potato Association (ABBA), which provided the seed tubers.