Different Concentrations of Potassium Silicate in Nutrient Solution Affects Selected Growth Characteristics and Mineral Composition of Barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.)

• Published in: Plants (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 11; p. 1405
• Main Authors: Mavrič Čermelj, Anja, Fideršek, Eva, Golob, Aleksandra, Kacjan Maršić, Nina, Vogel Mikuš, Katarina, Germ, Mateja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.05.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Acids; Barley; Cell division; Chemical composition; Chlorophyll; crop plants; Electron transport; elemental composition; Flowers & plants; Hordeum vulgare; Hydroponics; Leaves; Manganese; Mineral composition; Mitochondria; Morphology; multielemental stoichiometry; Necrosis; Nutrient concentrations; Physiological effects; Physiology; Plants; Potassium; Potassium silicates; Roots; Salinity; Senescence; Si fertilization; Silicon; Sorghum; Transportation systems; Trichomes; multielemental stoichiometry; hydroponics; Si fertilization; crop plants; elemental composition
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants11111405

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of potassium silicate (K SiO ) on the physiological and growth characteristics and elemental composition of barley plants. Hydroponically grown barley ( L.) var. Wilma was exposed to four different levels of Si in the form of K SiO at concentrations of 0 (Si ), 0.5 (Si ), 1 (Si ) or 1.5 (Si ) mM Si. Plants were analyzed for root length, number of dry leaves, number of trichomes, electron transport system activity in mitochondria (ETS), leaf pigment content and elemental composition of roots and leaves. Treatment with Si significantly increased the concentration of total chlorophylls, root length and ETS activity in barley. Plants with no Si added to the nutrient solution had significantly more dry leaves than plants from all Si-treated groups. Necrosis was observed in Si plants, while leaf damage was not visible in treated plants. According to the results of the study, we evidenced that plants were stressed due to Si deficiency. The addition of K SiO significantly affected the concentration of Si, K, Ca, Cl, S, Mn, Fe and Zn in roots and leaves of barley. In barley treated with Si , plants showed the best performance in terms of their physiological characteristics and growth.