Abstract
Previous studies of the benefits of silicon (Si) supplementation in turfgrass have had inconsistent results. This study assessed the effect of Si supplementation on biomass production and Si accumulation of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). Plants were grown in buffered Hoagland’s media (pH 6) with four sodium silicate (Na2SiO4) treatments (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mM Si). The two species responded differently to Si supplementation in terms of biomass. For bentgrass, biomass was enhanced by Si supplementation, but only significantly (p < 0.05) at the highest concentration (4 mM Si). Lower Si concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 mM Si) significantly increased biomass in tall fescue compared to control, but there was no increase in biomass at 4 mM Si. There was a positive linear relationship between Si concentrations in media and Si concentrations in tissue. At 4 mM Si, the Si concentrations in aboveground tissue of tall fescue and bentgrass averaged 24 and 30.5 g kg−1 dry mass, respectively. Elevated Si concentrations in growth media promoted formation of silica bodies. The highest Si rates (4 mM Si) resulted in the highest silica body areal coverage in leaves of both species. We observed two silica body morphologies (which we termed long and barbed). Our findings indicate that tall fescue is likely to benefit from Si supplementation when soil pore water dissolved Si is below 0.5 mM, but increases in soil pore water dissolved Si above 2 mM are unlikely to increase biomass. In contrast, benefits in bentgrass may only be realized if dissolved Si in pore water is increased to 4 mM.
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Claims 12
Claim · model-written summary
At 4 mM Si, bentgrass biomass increased significantly.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“For bentgrass, biomass was enhanced by Si supplementation, but only significantly (p < 0.05) at the highest concentration (4 mM Si).”
Claim · model-written summary
At 0.5, 1, and 2 mM Si, tall fescue biomass increased versus control.
- Taxon
- tall fescue
Lolium arundinaceume0 - Treatment
- 0.5, 1, and 2 mM Sie0
- Outcome
- biomasse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Lower Si concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 mM Si) significantly increased biomass in tall fescue compared to control”
Claim · model-written summary
At 4 mM Si, tall fescue biomass showed no increase.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Treatment
- 4 mM Sie0
- Outcome
- biomasse0
- Direction
- no increasee0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“there was no increase in biomass at 4 mM Si.”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
Media Si and tissue Si had a positive linear relationship.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Treatment
- Si concentrations in mediae0
- Outcome
- Si concentrations in tissuee0
- Direction
- positivee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was a positive linear relationship between Si concentrations in media and Si concentrations in tissue.”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
At 4 mM Si, tall fescue aboveground tissue averaged 24 g kg−1 dry mass Si.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceume0
- Organ / stage
- aboveground tissuee0
- Treatment
- 4 mM Sie0
- Outcome
- Si concentrations in aboveground tissuee0
- Value
- 24e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At 4 mM Si, the Si concentrations in aboveground tissue of tall fescue and bentgrass averaged 24 and 30.5 g kg−1 dry mass, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
At 4 mM Si, bentgrass aboveground tissue averaged 30.5 g kg−1 dry mass Si.
Verbatim
e0“At 4 mM Si, the Si concentrations in aboveground tissue of tall fescue and bentgrass averaged 24 and 30.5 g kg−1 dry mass, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Elevated media Si promoted silica body formation.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Treatment
- Elevated Si concentrations in growth mediae0
- Outcome
- formation of silica bodiese0
- Direction
- promotede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Elevated Si concentrations in growth media promoted formation of silica bodies.”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
At 4 mM Si, leaf silica body coverage was highest in both species.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Treatment
- 4 mM Sie0
- Outcome
- silica body areal coveragee0
- Direction
- higheste0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest Si rates (4 mM Si) resulted in the highest silica body areal coverage in leaves of both species.”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
Two silica body morphologies, long and barbed, were observed.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Outcome
- two silica body morphologies (which we termed long and barbed)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We observed two silica body morphologies (which we termed long and barbed).”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
Tall fescue was judged likely to benefit when pore water Si is below 0.5 mM.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceume0
- Outcome
- benefit from Si supplementatione0
- Qualifier
- below 0.5 mMe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tall fescue is likely to benefit from Si supplementation when soil pore water dissolved Si is below 0.5 mM”
Claim · model-written summary
Tall fescue biomass was judged unlikely to increase above 2 mM pore water Si.
- Taxon
- tall fescueLolium arundinaceumt0
- Outcome
- unlikely to increase biomasse0
- Qualifier
- above 2 mMe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“increases in soil pore water dissolved Si above 2 mM are unlikely to increase biomass.”
t0“tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)”
Claim · model-written summary
Bentgrass benefit may require pore water Si at 4 mM.
Verbatim
e0“benefits in bentgrass may only be realized if dissolved Si in pore water is increased to 4 mM”
The same questions in other papers
silicon atom · growth · Lolium arundinaceum (tall fescue)Results agree
6 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
3 papers more in this group
See all 7 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.