Impact of ortho silicic acid (OSA) on quantitative and qualitative attributes ofearly and mid late sugarcane varieties

Abstract

Plants efficiently absorb silica through the uptake of dissolved ortho silicic acid from the soil, a molecule characterized by its lack of charge. This variant of silica, recognized as ortho silicic acid (OSA) or plant-available silicon (PAS), originates from the depletion of silica-rich minerals. Despite its traditional non-essential status for plant growth, silica pervades the vegetation of soil- based crops, conferring functional and beneficial attributes. Intriguingly, specific crops like rice and sugarcane demonstrate a silica absorption pattern reminiscent of essential nutrients like nitrogen and potassium. Consequently, silica gains significance from an agronomic perspective, proving advantageous for enhancing the yield of these crops. Motivated by this revelation, our study delves into the effects of applying stabilized ortho silicic acid (Silxol, 0.8%) on the growth, yield, and juice quality characteristics of four distinct sugarcane varieties viz; two early (CoS 13231, CoLk 15204) and two mid-late varieties (CoS 12232, CoPb 15213). These varieties possess better sucrose percentages, yet their yield percentages fall short, leading to their limited acceptance among farmers due to the payment system anchored in cane weight. The outcomes unveiled a consistent elevation in tiller count and millable cane across all varieties due to silicic acid application. Additionally, the use of OSA fostered favorable impacts on pivotal cane yield attributes, including cane diameter, internode length, stalk height, and unit cane weight. These combined enhancements contributed to an amplified cane yield. Notably, treated canes showcased superior juice quality attributes, evidenced by enhanced measurements such as Brix levels, sucrose percentage, commercial cane sugar percentage (CCS %), and overall CCS yield per hectare.