Silicon-calcium fertilizer increased rice yield and quality by improving soil health

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 13088 - 12
• Main Authors: Yuan, Shuai, Han, Yu, Cui, Can, Chen, Pingping, Tu, Naimei, Rang, Zhongwen, Yi, Zhenxie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 07.06.2024; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Cadmium; Cadmium - analysis; Calcium; Calcium - analysis; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Cereal crops; Charcoal; Charcoal - chemistry; Correlation analysis; Crop production; Crop yield; Double cropping; Fertilizers; Fertilizers - analysis; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hygiene; Nutrient content; Nutritive value; Oryza - drug effects; Oryza - growth & development; Oxides; Rice; Rice fields; Rice quality; Silicon; Silicon - chemistry; Silicon–calcium fertilizer; Soil - chemistry; Soil amendment; Soil characteristics; Soil pH; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil quality; Rice quality; Soil characteristics; Silicon–calcium fertilizer; Rice
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63737-x

It is important to ensure the nutritional quality and safe production of rice. Here, plot experiments were used to analyze the effects of three soil amendments-10 t ha of biochar (BC), 1.5 t ha of lime (LM), and 2.25 t ha of silicon-calcium fertilizer (SC)-on the soil characteristics, rice yield and quality of double-cropping rice grown in mildly cadmium-polluted paddy fields. Compared with the control treatment (CK), the BC and SC treatments significantly improved rice processing, appearance and nutritional quality, but reduced cooking quality. All three soil amendments significantly reduced cadmium (Cd) content in brown rice. Soil amendments could significantly increase soil pH and reduce soil available Cd content. The application of the BC and SC treatments increased the content of each nutrient index in the soil (SOM, NN, AP, AK). Correlation analysis showed that the improvement in rice processing, appearance, and nutritional quality was mainly affected by the comprehensive effects of soil SOM, NN, AP and AK; the hygiene quality was mainly affected by soil pH and available Cd. In terms of benefit analysis combined with cost, the SC treatment had the highest benefit effect. Taken together, in mildly cadmium-polluted paddy fields, the application of silicon-calcium fertilizer improved the soil quality, thereby increased the yield and quality of rice, and had the best effect on increasing income.