Effect of silica mixed NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield of Malaysia rice

Abstract

Rice is the second most cultivated cereal after wheat. Nowadays, the growth and yield of Malaysia rice decreases. Fertilizing with nitrogen only tends to make rice leaves droopy, so less light interception and consequently reduce the rate of photosynthesis. Such crop canopy expose the plant to various form diseases causing growth and yield decrease. Silica can be used as an alternative to this problem. Silica strengthens the plant, protects the plant against pests and diseases, increases crop production and quality, stimulates active immune systems of plants, increases plant nutrition, increase plant salt resistance and neutralizes heavy metal toxicity in acid soils. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of silica mixed with NPK fertilizer application on growth and yield on Malaysia rice. Types of rice use for this experiment is MR 219 and MR 263. Silica was applied at the rates of 0, 200, 400 and 600kg/ha to the plant. Silica powder was characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDX). For MR 219, the higher the silica, result in higher the plant height, flag leaf area and 1000 grain weight. For the MR 263, the higher silica content result only in higher 1000 grain weight. In conclusion, the best silica content can be apply for MR 219 to give higher yield was 400kg/ha and 200kg/ha for MR 263.