Fontes e formas de aplicação de silício no controle de doenças na cultura do milho

Abstract

Despite the proven efficiency of silicon application in silicon-accumulating plants, its use remains very low among farmers, especially in corn cultivation. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the silicon leaf content, yield averages, and disease severity averages in two corn hybrids, DKB 380 and DKB 335, subjected to soil and foliar silicon application with the aim of controlling foliar diseases. Five treatments were conducted: T1 as the control, T2 with steel slag, T3 with potassium silicate, T4 with silinate, and T5 with steel slag + potassium silicate. T2 was applied one day after planting, T3 and T4 were applied at V3, V6, and V9, and T5 had the silicon source applied to the soil one day after planting and the foliar source applied at V3, V6, and V9. Four repetitions were performed for two corn varieties. The treatments did not show statistical differences among themselves in any of the evaluated characteristics for either of the two hybrids. However, there was a correlation between the average yields achieved and the silicon levels found in the leaves.