Origin of silica in rice plants and contribution of diatom Earth fertilization: insights from isotopic Si mass balance in a paddy field

Articles

9 March 2018

This study (M-TROPICS/BVET) identified and quantified the Si sources to rice plants using a solute mass balance at soil-plant scale and the silicon isotopic signatures of the various Si pools. It reveals that the main Si sources are soil amorphous silica, irrigation water and to a lesser extent Si fertilizer when it was applied. In Si-fertilized plots, biomass production and silicon uptake are larger than in control plots, indicating a possible priming effect of the Si fertilizer.

The paper was published in February 2018 in Plant and Soil, it is available here.

More news

Exploring the nexus between hydroclimatic variability, population growth, land use land cover change, and long-term upper Nyong Basin River chemistry (Central Africa rainforest)

Hydrological and hydrogeochemical functioning of rivers depends on the relationship between climatic variability, land use and land cover change (LULCC), and population dynamics. However, there is a scientific gap on this relationship in the humid tropical zone of Central Africa. This study, led by David Eric Komba, aims to fill this gap by examining the […]

A float-controlled self-contained laser gauge for monitoring river levels in tropical environments

In this paper Dr Pierret and colleagues present the design, construction and performance of a self-contained float-controlled water level gauge for monitoring water levels in streams and small rivers. This device is inexpensive (cost of about EUR 220), easy to build (no electronics skills or specialized tools required; assembled in a few hours) and straightforward […]

Reuse of bottom sediment from reservoirs to cropland is a promising agroecological practice that must be rationalized

In semi-arid areas, intermittent streams are often equipped with small reservoirs to store water for irrigation and/or groundwater recharge, and to capture sediments lost through erosion. These reservoirs must be periodically desilted to maintain their storage capacity. While bottom sediments are generally considered waste, their reuse in agricultural fields is a centuries-old practice in India. […]

Search