Influence of Silicon in Performance of Cereals under Drought Conditions

With the changing weather patterns and recurring droughts, India is becoming water stressed. As many as 256 of 700 districts have reported ‘critical’ or ‘over-exploited’ groundwater levels. Poor growth of plants in water deficient conditions was significantly improved with silicon application. Silicon application significantly increased silicon concentration and uptake in plants grown at all three soil water levels. Silicon application enhances the resistance and tolerance of plants under drought stress by increasing plant defense responses, such as those of the antioxidant system, thereby reducing drought-induced oxidative stress. Silicon also enhances biotic stress tolerance in plant. Silicon being a beneficial element imparts several benefits to the plants and animals. In many plant species, including the cereals the uptake of silicon from the soil even exceeds the uptake of essential nutrients.