Influence of Silicon and Phosphorus on Yield and Nutrient Content of Wheat in Loamy Sand Soils of Sadarkrushinagar, Banaskantha, Gujarat, India

To investigate the influence of silicon and phosphorus application on yield and nutrient content of wheat, a field experiment was carried out at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during Rabi season of 2020-2021. Experimental soil was loamy sand in texture with pH 7.01 and electrical conductivity 0.19 dSm-1. The soil was low in organic carbon (0.39%) and medium in available phosphorus (38.10 kg ha-1) and potassium (191.25 kg ha-1). Available silicon in soils was 60.75 mg kg-1. The experiment was dispersed as four levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) and four levels of silicon (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg Si ha-1) laid in randomized block design with factorial concept and replicated thrice. All the plots received a uniform recommended dose of nitrogen at 120 kg ha-1. Yield and nutrient content viz., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and silicon of grain and straw were noted. The results of experiment clearly indicated that the individual application of 60 kg ha-1 phosphorus and 100 kg ha-1 silicon recorded the significantly highest grain yield of 3808 and 3619 kg ha-1, respectively. With respect to phosphorus and silicon content in grain (0.36 and 1.64%) and straw ( 0.32 and 1.67%), individual application 60 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 100 kg Si ha-1 and 300 kg Si ha-1recorded maximum, respectively. As of interaction effect, significantly highest grain yield (4304 kg ha-1), and phosphorus content in grain (0.39%) was found with interaction effect of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 with Si level at 100 kg ha-1. Whereas the significantly highest straw yield (6201 kg ha-1), silicon content in grain (1.82%) and straw (4.21%) was found with interaction of 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 with Si level at 100 kg ha-1and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 with Si level at 200 kg ha-1. From the results of experimentation, it is clear that application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 along with 100 kg Si ha-1 could be better for increasing yield and nutrient content in wheat in loamy sand soils under North Gujarat Agro-climatic conditions.