Foliar nutritional effect of silicon for banana (Musa spp.) Crop in Ecuador

Abstract

 Introduction. Silicon in banana (Musa spp.) and its critical level when applied by foliar application is little known. For this reason, in the present investigation we proposed as a hypothesis that the foliar application of frequent doses of monosilicic acid (SiOH₄) increases the nutritional content of silicon in the crop. Objective. Evaluate the response of the banana crop to increasing doses of Si, to determine the foliar nutritional effect in the specific conditions of the province of El Oro. Materials and methods. The trials were implemented in the field in a completely randomized experimental design in blocks, where increasing doses of Si were applied (0; 250; 500 and 750 cm³.ha^-1), to evaluate its effect on the level of foliar Si, chlorophyll and roots, from leaf and root analyses. Regression analyzes were carried out and the respective relationship models between the doses of Si applied with the level of foliar Si in banana and chlorophyll were obtained. Results. A linear regression (R²: 0.43) model was obtained that could help predict the critical level of foliar Si in banana. Conclusions. It was found through the application of a linear equation that the higher the dose of Si applied (750 cm³ ) the higher the level of Si foliar (0.41%) in banana plants was achieved.