International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Acta Horticulturae, 1075, p. 229-234, 2015
DOI: 10.17660/actahortic.2015.1075.26
Full text: Unavailable
Silicon use on plants has been expanded because it may reduce overall pest attacks, increase production and improve product quality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different silicon quantities applied to the soil on 'Palmer' mango tree cultivation under irrigated conditions. The experiment was performed at a commercial 'Palmer' mango orchard in Matias Cardoso, MG, Brazil. The following five different quantities of silicon were tested: 0, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 kg ha-1 of Agro-silicon (25% Ca, 6.0% Mg and 11% SiO2). A randomized block design was used with five treatments, five replicates and one plant per experimental unity. Plant nutrition, vegetation and production characteristics and pest incidence were evaluated. Different quantities of Agro-silicon soil applications did not influence the disease or pest incidence or the silicon, calcium and magnesium content of 'Palmer' mango-associated soil and leaves. The majority of vegetative, productive and fruit quality characteristics in 'Palmer' mangoes were not influenced by different quantities of Agro-silicon, but there was a quadratic increase in the diameter of the fruit, in which the largest diameter was associated with 1600 kg ha-1 of Agro-silicon.