The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted its annual Citrus Nutrition Day in January at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. The event was well attended and covered various fertilizer and nutrition topics.
Muhammad Adnan Shahid, UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticulture, presented his ongoing research on the use of silicon as a beneficial plant nutrient. The research demonstrated the advantages the element has to offer.
Shahid said silicon has been researched extensively and has been shown to improve plant yields, root establishment, fruit size and number, resistance to pathogens and tolerance to environmental stress. It can also help extend post-harvest life.
In previous positions, Shahid studied various crop responses to silicon. When he moved into his new post with UF/IFAS, he was interested in how citrus would respond to the element.
One potential benefit is silicon provides a shield against insect feeding. The element creates a protective barrier on the leaf surface. That could benefit citrus by protecting it against pests like the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Trials have shown that silicon reduced both adult and nymph ACP populations in Tahiti lime.
One very clear benefit demonstrated using silicon is freeze protection. Shahid showed side-by-side photos of treated and non-treated citrus trees after a hard freeze. The non-treated trees were completely defoliated, while the treated trees still retained leaves and appeared healthy.
While more research is needed, Shahid said a continuous supply of silicon to plants is more effective than one annual application. Soil drenching was found to be more effective than foliar application. More research is needed to fine-tune application rates and the best formulations.
See Shahid’s full presentation on silicon here.
Share this Post
About the Author
Sponsored Content