Fertilisation with potassium silicate exerted little effect on production parameters of cucumbers exposed to UV and drought

Grašič, Mateja (author), Germ, Mateja (author), Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina (author), Ojdanič, Nik (author), Gaberščik, Alenka (author), Golob, Aleksandra (author)

(1) Background: Cucumbers are highly sensitive to drought and UV-B radiation, which may also act synergistically. Silicon is a beneficial element for plants, as it can alleviate negative effects of different environmental constraints. Studies revealed that fertilisation of cucumbers with silicon showed a variety of positive effects, which increased plant vitality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of potassium silicate in shaping cucumber traits and in mitigating potential adverse effects of drought and UV radiation. (2) Methods: Plants were exposed to different treatments regarding water availability, UV radiation, and potassium silicate addition. During the experiment, the level of plant-available silicon and total silicon content in the soil were monitored along with soil moisture. At the end of the experiment, the leaf element composition, leaf biochemical and leaf physiological properties were analysed in addition to growth and production parameters of these cucumbers. (3) Results: Among the three studied factors, insufficient water supply had the most negative impact on measured parameters, causing a significant decline in cucumber growth and production. UV radiation had an adverse impact on various studied parameters, while potassium silicate addition negatively affected production parameters. Fertilisation with potassium silicate increased the level of plant-available silicon in the soil and leaf silicon content. (4) Conclusions: Fertilisation with potassium silicate exerted little impact on production parameters of cucumbers exposed to ambient UV radiation and drought. Significant interactions between the studied factors were detected for the aboveground vegetative plant parts.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cucumbers, potassium silicate, plant-available silicon, drought, UV radiation, leaf traits
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 142-161
• Numbering: Vol. 1, iss. 3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135704
• UDC: 581.1
• ISSN on article: 2673-7140
• DOI: 10.3390/stresses1030012
• COBISS.SI-ID: 73854723
• Publication date in RUL: 29.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Stresses
• Shortened title: Stresses
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2673-7140
• COBISS.SI-ID: 73843715

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.09.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kumare, kalijev silikat, rastlinam dostopen silicij, suša, UV sevanje, poteze listov