Effect of Silica Application to a Nursery Bed of Rice on Rooting Ability and Early Growth of Rice Plants

Abstract

The rooting ability of seedlings and early growth of rice plants with and without silica application were estimated. The pH value of silica used was about 5, indicating there was no effect of silica application on the mineralization of soil organic nitrogen. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The dry weight of seedlings and ratio of dry weight to plant height of seedlings were higher in plots with silica application than in those without silica application. These results were attributed to an increased photosynthetic rate caused by a high stomatal aperture and high light extinction coefficient plot with silica application. 2. A larger number of new roots was observed in silica-applied rice seedlings which had a higher amount of TAC than rice seedlings without silica application. Furthermore, the root activity of the rice seedlings, as indicated by the α-α naphtylamine method, was higher in silica application plots than when silica was not applied. Silica application was more effective on plant dry matter than tiller production of rice plants.