Response of Orthosilicic Acid and Seaweed Extract for Mitigation in Brassica juncea
Loading...
Date
2020-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CCSHAU,HiSAR
Abstract
The present study entitled “Response of Orthosilicic acid and seaweed extract for drought mitigation in
Brassica juncea” was conducted at Field Crop Research Area of Oilseeds Section, Department of Genetics & Plant
Breeding. Foliar application of biostimulants viz. Orthosilicic acid (2ml/L & 4ml/L), Seaweed extract (3ml/L &
4ml/L) and water spray were done two times at 25-30 DAS and 40-45DAS in two environments i.e., irrigated and
rain fed in Brassica variety RH 725. Sampling was done after 5 days of second application of biostimulants. Foliar
application of OSA & Seaweed had a positive impact on the physiological processes of the crop under normal and
stress conditions, however they help to minimize the degree of stress impact over normal conditions. At sowing
time 13.6% soil moisture content was observed which was reduced to (4.8%) at the time of harvesting in upper
layer of the soil (0-30 cm). The data was recorded for Growth, physiological, biochemical and yield parameters,
which had a positive impact on application of orthosilicic acid and seaweed extract under rainfed conditions.
Physiological parameters like photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, relative water
content, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll stability index decrease significantly but this reduction was reduced
by foliar application of OSA and seaweed extract in both environments. The percent decrease was minimum with
treatment of 2ml/L OSA tracked by 3ml/L seaweed extract treated plants. The percent reduction recorded for
photosynthesis rate (18.0% & 18.70%), transpiration rate (31.31% & 29.62%), RWC (12.30% & 14.03%) and
water potential (17.39% & 18.31%) in 2ml/L OSA and 3ml/L seaweed extract treated plants respectively. These
results were supported with the biochemical results viz. H2O2, MDA, RSI, proline, glycine betaine content that
decreased in treated plants as compared to their respective controls. Total soluble sugars, total soluble protein and
antioxidant enzyme activities like SOD, CAT, APX increased after applying orthosilic acid and seaweed extract
which may be the contributing factors for yield increment.
Seed yield along with plant height, number of siliqua, seeds per siliqua, 1000seed weight and biological
yield decreases due to unavailability of water in the soil under normal conditions. As compared to control ones,
plants treated with orthosilicic acid and seaweed extract significantly increased the yield and its attributes like
plant height, 1000seed weight, number of siliqua per plant, seeds per siliqua. Minimum reduction in yield was
reported in 2ml/L OSA and then in 3ml/L seaweed extract. Seed yield was reduced by 17.34% in control plants
and by application of OSA (2ml/L) and seaweed extract (3ml/L) this effect was lowered to 10.22% and 13.30%.
Drought susceptibility index was calculated to see the overall effect of treatments and it was found minimum in
2ml/L OSA treated plants, showing its superiority over other treatments. From our results, it is concluded that
twice foliar application of 2ml/L of OSA at vegetative stage results into higher yields, with better physiological
efficiencies as this concentration maintains best plant water relations and source to sink strength which is self
explanatory in our results.