Silicon-enhanced seedling root-dipping for transplanted rice in acidic soil

Silicon-enhanced seedling root-dipping for transplanted rice in acidic soil | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Silicon-enhanced seedling root-dipping for transplanted rice in acidic soil Mayanglambam Homeshwari Devi, Dwipendra Thakuria This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Rice cultivation in problematic acid soils poses challenges for sustainable agriculture. To address this issue, seedling root-dip (SRD), rhizospheric nutrient management technique, in soil-water slurry amended with nutrient prior to crop transplantation has gained recognition. The study reported critical doses of silicon (Si) in SRD (Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O amended soil-water slurry) for three rice types (Hybrid: Arize 6444, HYV: Ranjit and Traditional: Mendri) from two acid soils (Sandy clay loam, SCL, pH 4.98 and clay loam, CL, pH 4.52) and 10 h incubation, respectively using the critical curve approach by Cate and Nelson. In SCL, the order of critical Si doses (mg/kg − 1 ) was Hybrid (275) > HYV, Traditional (225), while in CL, it was Hybrid (325) > HYV (225) > Traditional (175). From the field experiment I, the Si content and uptake was significantly higher in soil application (SA) of P-Zn-Si at tillering stage, while in Experiment II, it was comparable among the Si applied treatments (either SRD/foliar application). At harvest, the yield increase over control in Experiment I was SA of P-Zn-Si (130%) > P + MCRD + Zn-Si foliar + 50% RDP (96.12%) > MN + MCRD (30.28%) > MCRD (19.01) > MNRD (2.82%) while in Experiment II, the yield in Si added treatments along with 50% RDP gives a comparable yield with conventional method (100% RDP) and additionally, it can also save the P fertilizer input up to 50%. Based on this result, the study recommends the application of Si (SRD/foliar application) along with 50% RDP may sustain higher rice yields in acid soils. Silicon relative Si uptake Hybrid rice High yielding rice Traditional rice Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 1. Introduction Rice cultivation in acidic soils poses major challenges for sustainable agriculture and crop productivity. Acidic soils, marked by low pH and nutrient imbalances, hinder rice growth and development. Globally, about 26% of ice-free land faces soil acidity constraints [1]. In India, nearly 28% of the total geographical area (TGA) is acidic, with 9.3% strongly to moderately acidic (pH < 5.5) and 18.9% slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5). The North Eastern Region (NER) is most affected, where over 81% of TGA suffers from soil acidity, including 5.6 million ha with pH below 4.5 [2]. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major constraint, restricting root growth, nutrient uptake, and cell function. It also aggravates phosphorus deficiency, reducing productivity in nearly 67% of acidic soils [3–5]. Silicon (Si), though not classified as an essential nutrient, has been widely recognized for its beneficial role in strengthening plant stress tolerance, improving nutrient-use efficiency, and mitigating abiotic stresses such as soil acidity, Al toxicity, thereby improving P deficiency caused by acidity. These benefits occur through soil-mediated mechanisms, such as reducing phosphate adsorption by competing with phosphate ions for binding sites, as well as plant-mediated processes that enhance tolerance to metal stress [6]. Although some studies report inconsistent effects of Si on soil P availability, it is generally accepted that Si supply improves P utilization in acidic soils by reducing the uptake of toxic metals, including Al, Mn, Fe, and Cd [7, 8]. The role of Si in alleviating Al toxicity has been documented in several crops, including rice, wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, and soybean, with mechanisms involving increased soil solution pH, reduced Al bioavailability, and internal detoxification through hydroxyl alumino-silicate (HAS) formation [9,10]. Among emerging nutrient management techniques, seedling root-dipping (SRD) in enriched nutrient slurry offers a simple, cost-effective strategy to supply localized micro-doses of nutrients at transplanting. The practice of dipping rice seedling roots in a P solution or slurry has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method of P fertilization of rice [11–13], while also enhancing the application of applied phosphorus in soils with high phosphorus fixation [12,14]. Similarly the beneficial impact of root-dipping yellow lupin in a slurry amended with phosphorus and zinc has been reported [15]. However, little is known about the potential of Si-enriched slurry in SRD for transplanted rice. This study therefore investigates the optimum Si concentration for SRD across hybrid (HYB), high-yielding (HYV), and traditional (TDR) rice cultivars in two different soil textures (sandy clay loam and clay), which is commonly cultivated rice in NEH region, India and compares its efficiency with conventional nutrient management practices under field conditions. 2. Material and methods 2.1. Description of soils For determining critical doses of Si, an incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory by using two acid soils which is mostly cultivated rice in Meghalaya (India) belong to soil textural class sandy clay loam (SCL) and clay loam (CL). The SCL soil was collected from the Experimental Farm field, College of Post Graduate Studies, CAU-Imphal, Umiam, Meghalaya and the CL soil was collected from a micro-watershed area at Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya. From each site, the soil furrow slice (0–15 cm depth) from 1 m 2 area collected in bulk quantity. Soils are allowed to dry under shade till friable consistency and removed all visible root bits, dead plant parts and stones, etc. Then soils were passed through 2 mm sieve, air-dried and stored for determination of soil physico-chemical properties and subsequent use in incubation experiment on seedling root-dip treatment. The orders of SCL and CL soils are Inceptisol and Alfisol , respectively as per USDA taxonomy. The occurrence of these two textural classes is common in rice fields of North East India. Both soils fall under strongly acid soil category. Among soil chemical properties, values of SOC content and exchangeable Al content of SCL soil was significantly lower (1.85% and 0.5 meq 100 − 1 g soil, respectively) compared to CL soil (2.62% and 0.5 meq 100 − 1 g soil, respectively). Following the determination of the critical Si dose for SRD in silicon amended Soil Slurry method through incubation experiments (explained in the subsequent paragraphs), two independent field experiments was conducted in subsequent years. The first year field experiment (experiment I), was conducted in infertile acid soil (SCL, soil texture) at CPGS experimental farm, Meghalaya and the 2nd year field experiment (Experiment II) was conducted in fertile acid soil, (CL, Soil texture) at Kakching, Manipur for testing the efficacy of SRD in Si Soil Slurry method of Si management in transplanted ( kharif ) rice (HYV: CAU R1). The geographical detail, origin and history of the fields and their respective initial physiochemical properties for both the incubation experimental soil experimental rice field were given in Table 1 . Table 1 Soil origin, management history, and physico-chemical characteristics of soils used in incubation and field experiments Soil properties Incubation exp (SCL) Incubation exp (CL) Field Experiment I Field Experiment II Reference Origin CPGS experimental field, Umiam Micro-watershed area, Nongpoh CPGS experimental field, Umiam Kakching Turel Wangma, Kakching Geographical location 25°41ʼN, 91°54ʼE 950 m above msl 25°54ʼN, 91° 53ʼE 485 m above msl 25°41ʼN, 91°54ʼE 950 m above msl 24°48’N, 93°98’E, 776 m above msl Management history Rice monocropping Rice monocropping Rice monocropping Rice-Mustard cropping % Coarse Sand 10.5 ± 0.7 7.5 ± 0.5 10.5 ± 0.7 1.5 ± 0.8 Black [ 16] % Fine Sand 49.5 ± 0.6 29.5 ± 0.5 49.5 ± 0.6 28.5 ± 0.5 % Silt 12.5 ± 0.5 27.5 ± 0.6 12.5 ± 0.5 32.5 ± 0.6 % Clay 27.5 ± 0.7 35.5 ± 0.4 27.5 ± 0.7 37.5 ± 0.6 Soil textural class Sandy clay loam (SCL) Clay loam (CL) Sandy clay loam (SCL) Clay loam (CL) Bulk density (g cm − 3 ) 1.45 ± 0.09 1.28 ± 0.06 1.4 ± 0.09 1.31 ± 0.07 Black [16] Maximum water holding capacity (%) 40 ± 0.9 48.6 ± 0.8 57.2 ± 0.09 50.3 ± 0.07 Piper [ 17] pH (1:2.5) 4.98 ± 0.03 4.52 ± 0.06 4.85 ± 0.05 5.56 ± 0.06 Jackson [18 ] Soil Organic Carbon (g kg − 1 soil) 0.18 ± 0.002 0.26 ± 0.011 0.17 ± 0.003 0.23 ± 0.009 Walkley and Black [19] Soil Avl N (kg ha − 1 ) 251 ± 5.1 276 ± 6.1 258 ± 4.6 288 ± 5.0 Subbiah and Asija [20] Soil Avl P (kg ha − 1 ) 5.91 ± 0.37 8.43 ± 0.70 4.02 ± 0.41 7.89 ± 0.62 Bray and Kurtz [ 21] Soil Avl K (kg ha − 1 ) 210 ± 8.8 72.0 ± 4.5 228 ± 7.4 241 ± 8.3 Hanway and Heidel [22] Soil Avl Si (mg kg − 1 soil) 32.01 ± 2.42 33.13 ± 3.01 33 ± 2.05 34.2 ± 3.4 Haysom and Chapman [23] Readily soluble Al (mg kg − 1 soil) 7.72 ± 0.50 30.2 ± 0.18 4.30 ± 0.41 1.16 ± 0.32 Hoyt and Webber [24 ] Values are means ± standard deviations, n = 5 replicate analysis 2.2. Raising of rice seedlings for incubation experiment Three rice types namely hybrid (HYB, variety: Arize-6444 ), high yielding variety (HYV, variety: Ranjit ) and traditional landrace rice (TDR, local name: Mendri ) were selected for use in the incubation experiment. Healthy disease free seeds of three rice types were sown separately in nursery bed of 1 m 2 area. Rice seedling nursery bed was prepared as per the standard package of practices. In brief, finely tilt raised seedling bed (10 cm depth) was prepared, broadcasted finely grounded dry compost @ 2 t ha − 1 (200 g per 1 m 2 bed) and then the overnight soaked rice seeds in water sown on the nursery bed followed incorporation of seeds in soil by light hoeing. Soil moisture was maintained approximate at the field capacity level and excess rainwater was drained out to avoid stagnation. Twenty one days old rice seedlings were carefully uprooted and their roots rinsed under running tap water to remove adhered soils. Then uniform seedlings were sorted out and the root portion was again rinsed with 3 changes of distilled water. The fresh weight of each seedling was measured, after which they were prepared for the incubation experiment. The uprooting of rice seedling to rinsing with distilled water was accomplished within an hour and used immediately for root-dipping treatment. 2.3. Incubation experiment Altogether, 162 beakers (9 doses of Si x 3 replications x 3 rice types x 2 soil types = 162 beakers) were arranged. Each beaker (500 ml capacity) contained soil:water slurry composed of 100 g soil plus 40 ml water (2.5:1) for SCL soil and 100 g soil plus 50 ml water (2:1) for CL soil [12,25,26]. The graded concentrations of Si (as Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O) ranged from 0 to 400 mg Si kg − 1 soil at 50 mg kg − 1 interval (0,50,100,150,200,250,300,350, and 400 mg kg − 1 ) was added in soil:water slurry in each of 162 beakers (Fig. 1 ). The soil:water slurry with no Si addition (0 mg Si kg − 1 soil) was treated as control. In each beaker 5 uniform rice seedlings (21 days old) were placed and incubated for 10 h at room temperature (23 ± 1.5 0 C) during night. After incubation, each treated seedlings were removed and slurry adhered to the roots was collected by washing (with double distill water) in a beaker. This diluted slurry was used for Si analysis to determine the amount of Si that could be transferred along with the seedlings. After collecting the adhered slurry, the seedlings were rinsed again in 0.01 N HCl followed by double distilled water and allowed to air-dry. Then washed samples were kept inside oven at 60ºC till the constant weight and the dry weight of each seedling was also determined. The dried seedlings (whole plant including root) were grounded using Laboratory Willey Mill (Secor Make, India) and analysed for tissue Si concentration. Moreover, available Si content was also determined in the left over soil-water slurry [12, 25, 26]. The Si content and uptake curve against the graded doses of Slurry Si was drawn and the critical concentration of Si dose was determined by using Cate and Nelson [27, 28] procedure. 2.4. Field experiments The first year field experiment (Experiment I) was remained under rice mono-cropping, while in second year field experiment (experiment II ) was under Rice- mustard cropping system for last 5 years. The experiment I, was conducted at College of Post Graduate Studies Experimental Farm, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, District Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya). The mean maximum and minimum temperature during the crop growth period was ranging from 24.11°C to 29.34°C and 8.06°C to 19.59°C. The mean morning and evening relative humidity was ranging from 81.29–91.71% and 52.71–86% respectively and the wind speed was in the range of 0.96 to 3.46 km h -1 . The total rainfall during the crop period was 1942.2 mm. The rice field was divided into 24 plots of 6 m² each and arranged in a randomized block design with six treatments, including a control, various root-dip methods (microbial, multi-nutrient, and combined), conventional soil applications of P, Zn, and Si, (60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 as SSP, Zn @ 5 kg Zn ha -1 as ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O and Si @ 120 kg Si ha -1 as Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O) and a treatment combining P + microbial consortium (MC) root dip with foliar Zn and Si and reduced phosphorus dose (i.e. 50%). MC was the combination of five microorganisms (C4: Arthobacter sp ; I3: Klebsiella pneumonia ; N3: Seratia marcescens ; P5: Enterobacter sp and B1: Pseudomonas putida ) @ 4 kg ha -1 as per seedling root-dip technique. Every plots except control received nitrogen (80 kg N ha -1 as urea and potassium (40 kg K 2 O ha -1 as muriate of potash) fertilizers, with urea applied in three splits, and a constant water depth of 5 cm was maintained until grain filling; in the multi-nutrient root dip (K 2 HPO 4 @ 88 mg P 2 O 5 kg -1 soil, ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O @ 0.22 mg Zn kg -1 soil and Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O @ 225 mg Si kg -1 soil), rice seedlings were soaked overnight in a soil-water slurry containing phosphorus, zinc, and silicon before transplanting. Plant protection measures were applied as needed following standard recommendations. The second year field experiment (experiment II) was conducted at farmer’s field in Kakching, Kakching district, Manipur. The maximum and minimum temperature during the crop season was in the range of 23.39°C to 31.86°C and 7.81°C to 23.03°C and the respective morning and evening relative humidity was ranging from 84.57–96.43% and 50.29–87.29%. The wind speed was in the range of 2.43 to 5.01 km h -1 .The total rainfall during the crop period was 1139.7 mm. The rice field was divided into 20 nos. of uniform plots and each plot size was 32 sqm (4 m x 8m) and arranged in randomized block design. Four treatments were tested: (1) 100% Recommended Dose of Phosphorus (RDP; 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 as SSP), (2) multinutrient root dip + 50%RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ), (3) multinutrient and microbial consortium root dip + 50%RDP (4) phosphorus and microbial consortium root dip + foliar application of Zn (0.5%) and Si (1.0%) + 50%RDP. All the treatment plots received N @ 80 kg ha -1 as urea and K 2 O @ 40 kg ha -1 as muriate of potash. A constant stagnant water level (5 cm) was maintained in the plot till the grain filling stage. For the soil slurry root-dip (SRD) treatment, seedlings were dipped overnight in a slurry containing SSP (88 mg P₂O₅ kg⁻¹ soil), ZnSO₄·7H₂O (1.24 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil), and Na₂O₃Si·9H₂O (225 mg Si kg⁻¹ soil) before transplanting. Crop protection measures were adopted as per standard recommendations. For plant parameter observations, ten hills per plot were marked. In both experiments I and II, chlorophyll content were measured at 60 DAT. The marked hills was harvested, threshed, and separated into grain and straw, which were cleaned, oven-dried at 60°C, and ground for Si analysis in Experiment I, while the plant parameters like shoot and root biomass, silicon content and uptake in shoot and root and Available Si content were determined at 60DAT in Experiment II. Grain and straw yields were calculated from both the experimental fields on a hectare basis, and Si uptake was estimated by multiplying Si content (%) with respective biomass yields. $$\:\text{S}\text{i}\:\text{U}\text{p}\text{t}\text{a}\text{k}\text{e}\:(\text{m}\text{g}/\text{g}\:\text{S}\text{t}\text{r}\text{a}\text{w}\:\text{o}\text{r}\:\text{g}\text{r}\text{a}\text{i}\text{n})=\frac{\text{S}\text{t}\text{r}\text{a}\text{w}\:\text{o}\text{r}\:\text{G}\text{r}\text{a}\text{i}\text{n}\:\text{y}\text{i}\text{e}\text{l}\text{d}\:\text{X}\text{%}\text{S}\text{i}}{100}$$ 2.5. Soil and plant tissue analysis A composite soil sample from the five soil cores (0–15 cm depth) per plot were pooled at the harvest time for experiment I and at 60 DAT for field Experiment II. The collected samples were air dried and analysed for pH and soil Available Si as per standard methods (Table 1 ). Plant silicon concentration was analyzed using the alkaline fusion method, followed by a colorimetric assay [29]. The Si concentration was measured using spectrophotometer at 820 nm. The content of Si in plant tissue was expressed in percentage (%).The uptake of nutrient in biomass was determined by multiplying nutrient content (%) with biomass yield incorporating dilution factor. 2.6. Statistical Analysis The data were analyzed using 2-factorial analysis of variance (two way ANOVA) with SPSS v.25 to examine the individual and interaction effects of Si concentration in slurry on both soil types (SCL and CL) and rice varieties. Subsequently, pairwise comparisons among the mean values for each parameter within each factor (concentration, varieties and soil types) were conducted using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. For field experiments, every parameter reported in this investigation, the six nutrient management treatments were analyzed for differences among means (P < 0.05) by performing one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) and the Tukey’s Honestly Significance Difference test at P ≤ 0.05 for pair-wise comparisons among treatment means. For field experiment-II, paired t-test (P ≤ 0.05) was performed to test the significance difference between treatment means. 3. Results The physico chemical properties of initial soil in both incubation and field experiments are presented in Table 1 . Both soils are strongly acidic, with SCL being more acidic than CL. However, soil available-N and -P, maximum water holding capacity, soil organic carbon and exchangeable Al are higher in CL than in SCL, but there is comparable soil available Si between the two soils (Table 1 ). The dry weight of 21-day-old rice seedlings ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 g per beaker for HYV rice, 0.08 to 0.13 g per beaker for HYB and 0.11 to 0.15 g per beaker for TDR rice. Within each rice type, the differences in seedling dry biomass weight among treatment were statistically at par (P > 0.05, one-way ANOVA; data not presented). In the experiment, soil adhered to the seedling roots were on average, 20 ± 2.8 g plant − 1 in SCL and 28 ± 2.1 g plant − 1 in CL. The amount of Si in this soil (which can be transferred along with the seedlings during transplanting) ranged from 1.42 ± 0.044 mg plant − 1 (Mean ± SE) in SCL to 2.59 ± 0.095 mg plant − 1 in CL. 3.1. Effect of Si -content and –uptake by SRD-Si in Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O Soil slurry under different concentrations After 10 hr of dipping in SRD-Si treatment, the Si uptake by the rice seedling was significantly affected by soil texture, with 18.91% higher uptake was observed in CL compared to SCL (P < 0.05, Two-way ANOVA; Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). Rice variety also significantly affected on Si -content and -uptake in the seedlings. On both soils, the HYV variety showed significantly higher uptake, followed by HYB and TDR in that order (P < 0.05; Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). The Si concentration in the soil slurry of SRD-Si also significantly affected on both parameters, (Si -content and -uptake; P < 0.05). The highest Si content and uptake was observed at 250 mg kg -1 of Si concentration in the slurry, with the lowest observed at control mg kg -1 (Fig. 2 ) irrespective to the soil types. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant interactions among soil texture and variety, soil texture and slurry Si concentration, variety and slurry Si concentration, as well as the combined effect of soil texture, variety, and slurry Si concentration (P < 0.05). Table 2 Silicon content and uptake by rice seedlings using SRD methods, and residual available Si in slurry from the incubation experiment. Si Uptake (mg plant − 1 ) Si Content (%) Soil available Si (mg kg − 1 ) Sandy Clay Loam Si concentration in the slurry (mg kg − 1 ) 0 83.53 ± 1.74 a 8.35 ± 0.174 a 52.46 ± 4.78 a 50 86.14 ± 1.91 ab 8.61 ± 0.191 ab 57.66 ± 6.87 ab 100 90.53 ± 1.44 abc 9.05 ± 0.144 abc 63.19 ± 4.51 abc 150 92.80 ± 1.67 abcd 9.28 ± 0.167 abcd 67.32 ± 4.73 abc 200 97.61 ± 1.35 cd 9.760.135 ± cd 72.84 ± 5.13 abc 250 108.39 ± 3.25 e 10.84 ± 0.325 e 77.20 ± 5.84 abc 300 102.23 ± 2.70 de 10.22 ± 0.270 de 79.87 ± 5.98 bc 350 94.47 ± 2.75 bcd 9.45 ± 0.275 bcd 83.13 ± 6.96 bc 400 89.84 ± 3.05 abc 8.980.305 ± abc 86.11 ± 6.65 c Rice Varieties HYV 97.97 ± 1.49 B 9.80 ± 0.149 B 72.76 ± 3.03 B HYB 92.59 ± 1.52 AB 9.26 ± 0.152 AB 53.96 ± 2.08 A TRD 91.29 ± 2.40 A 9.13 ± 0.240 A 86.54 ± 3.29 C Mean ± SD 93.95 ± 9.92 9.39 ± 0.992 71.08 ± 19.86 Cay Loam Si concentration in the slurry (mg kg − 1 ) 0 93.73 ± 3.87 a 9.37 ± 0.387 a 65.44 ± 7.62 a 50 97.35 ± 3.73 a 9.74 ± 0.373 a 70.51 ± 6.84 a 100 103.11 ± 4.59 ab 10.31 ± 0.459 ab 75.25 ± 7.54 ab 150 112.56 ± 5.17 ab 11.26 ± 0.517 ab 81.50 ± 7.76 ab 200 121.29 ± 5.95 ab 12.13 ± 0.595 ab 86.57 ± 9.27 ab 250 130.34 ± 8.90 b 13.03 ± 0.890 b 89.62 ± 9.62 ab 300 120.83 ± 7.14 ab 12.08 ± 0.714 ab 96.02 ± 11.07 ab 350 117.73 ± 8.46 ab 11.77 ± 0.846 ab 101.12 ± 7.17 ab 400 108.53 ± 6.47 ab 10.85 ± 0.647 ab 111.12 ± 10.76 b Rice Varieties HYV 129.10 ± 3.28 C 12.91 ± 0.328 C 63.21 ± 4.45 A HYB 114.003.35 ± B 11.40 ± 0.335 B 92.47 ± 3.89 B TRD 92.07 ± 1.69 A 9.21 ± 0.169 A 103.37 ± 5.03 B Mean ± SD 111.72 ± 21.26 11.17 ± 2.13 86.35 ± 28.64 Concentration ** ** ** Varieties ** ** ** Soil texture ** ** ** Concentration x Variety ** ** * Con. x Soil texture ** ** ns Variety x soil texture ** ** ** Conc. X Vari. X soil texture ** ** ns 3.2 Available Si in SRD-Si soil slurry After 10 hours of dipping in SRD-Si treatment, the available Si (Avl-Si) in slurry soil shows significant differences based on all the main factors: soil texture, concentration and rice variety (P < 0.05 two-way ANOVA; Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). CL soil shows higher Si levels (85.35 mg kg-1) compared to SCL soil (71.08 mg kg -1 ). However, interactions between concentration and variety, as well as between variety and soil texture, show significant effects (P < 0.05). In contrast, the interactions between concentration and soil texture, and the overall interaction among concentration, variety and soil texture were not statistically significant as determined by multivariate analysis (P > 0.05; Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). 3.3 Si dose optimization in SRD-Si soil slurry The optimal Si dose in SRD-Si soil slurry was determined based on 90% of the relative percentage of maximum Si uptake by rice seedlings during a 10-hour of dipping at respective concentrations in both soil types (CL and SCL) across different rice varieties (HYB, HYV and TDR), using the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve approach. In all rice varieties, the relative Si uptake in rice seedlings were initially minimal in the control, but increased with increasing Si concentration in the SRD-Si soil slurry up to a certain level, then decreased with further increases in slurry Si concentration, (Fig. 3 , Table 2 ). The relative Si uptake was lowest at control (No SRD-Si) irrespective of soil types. The respective relative uptake values of control in HYB, HYV and TDR rice were 76.9%, 78.6% and 70.2% in SCL while in CL the respective values were 63.3%, 66.5% and 78.2% in CL soil. Maximum relative Si uptake values (100%) were observed in the soil slurry at Si concentrations of 250 mg kg -1 , 300 mg kg -1 and 250 mg kg -1 in SCL, and 250 mg kg -1 , 350 mg kg -1 and 200 mg kg -1 in CL, respectively across HYB, HYV and TDR rice varieties. Beyond this point of Si concentration in the slurry, further increases in concentration up to 400 mg kg -1 relatively decreased their values, in all rice varieties regardless of soil types. After using the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve approach to determine the optimum Si dose in soil slurry concentrations based on achieving 90% of the relative Si uptake by rice seedlings in SRD-Si soil slurry, optimal doses were found to be 275 mg kg -1 , 225 mg kg -1 and 225 mg kg -1 in SCL, and 325mg kg -1 , 225 mg kg -1 and 175 mg kg -1 in CL, respectively, across HYB, HYV and TDR rice varieties (Fig. 3 ). 3.2. Performance of SRD-Si in field conditions In Experiment I, application of Si by different methods to transplanted rice crop positively influenced the growth and yield parameters (Chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage and grain yield, straw biomass and No of panicles per hill at harvest), and the differences between application methods in terms of these parameters were significant (P < 0.05, Table 3 and Fig. 3 ). The chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content at 60 DAT was significantly higher in P + MCRD + 50% RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment followed by in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment while Chlorophyll b was significantly lesser in P + MCRD + 50% RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment followed by in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment (P < 0.05, Table 3 ). Carotenoid content in leaves varied significantly among treatments (P < 0.05, Table 3 ) and the least content of carotenoid was observed in P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment and the highest content in control (no input) treatment. The content of MDA at 60 DAT and cell membrane stability at 60 DAT among different treatments varied significantly (P < 0.05, Table 3 ), and the highest values were observed in control (no input) treatment and the lowest values in P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment. The volume of root per hill was significantly higher in SA of P-Zn-Si followed by P + MCRD + 50% RDP + FA of Zn + Si at 60 DAT (P < 0.05, Table 3 ). Table 3 Plant Growth parameters of HYV rice (variety: CAU R1) at 60 DAT as influenced by different methods of silicon application in strongly acid infertile soil from filed experiment-I Chlorophyll a (mg g − 1 FW) Chlorophyll b (mg g − 1 FW) Total Chlorophyll (mg g − 1 FW) Carotenoid (µg g − 1 FW) MDA content (µmol g − 1 FW) Cell membrane stability (electrolyte leakage %) Control 0.55 ± 0.04 a 0.29 ± 0.01 c 0.94 ± 0.04 a 36.34 ± 0.73 b 27.58 ± 1.04 d 73.90 ± 3.14 c MCRD 0.67 ± 0.0 bc 0.27 ± 0.02 bc 1.04 ± 0.04 a 36.72 ± 0.83 b 21.01 ± 0.79 b 65.13 ± 2.93 b MNRD 0.58 ± 0.03 ab 0.24 ± 0.01 abc 1.00 ± 0.09 a 38.52 ± 0.72 b 23.03 ± 1.06 c 68.52 ± 2.43 b MN + MC RD 0.64 ± 0.05 abc 0.25 ± 0.01 abc 1.07 ± 0.05 a 31.14 ± 0.81 a 19.76 ± 1.17 b 65.30 ± 1.39 b Soil P, Zn & Si application 0.69 ± 0.07 cd 0.23 ± 0.02 ab 1.24 ± 0.05 b 29.51 ± 0.81 a 19.41 ± 0.72 b 59.03 ± 2.08 a P & MC RD + Foliar Zn and Si + 50% RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ) 0.78 ± 0.04 d 0.21 ± 0.01 a 1.40 ± 0.05 c 29.12 ± 0.83 a 17.18 ± 0.99 a 58.64 ± 1.61 a Values are mean for four replicates ± standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey’s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means The effects of MCRD, MNRD and their combination (MN + MCRD) were comparable in chlorophyll-a and total chlorophyll contents at 60 DAT and their values were significantly lower than that in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment and P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment (P 0.05, Table 3 ). On the other hand, MCRD, MNRD and their combination (MN + MCRD) treatments were comparable in terms of the contents of chlorophyll-b, MDA, cell membrane stability, and carotenoids (P > 0.05, Table 3 ) and their values were higher than that in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment and P + MCRD + 50% RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatment. Comparative effects of seedling root-dip method amended with either microbial consortium (MC) or multinutrients (P + Zn + Si), soil application (P + Zn + Si) and the combination of root-dip (P + MC) + 50%RDP + foliar application (FA) of Zn + Si on No. of grains per panicle, grain and straw yield are presented on Fig. 3 . these yield attributes were significantly higher in SA of P-Zn-Si and P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatments compared to that in other treatments (P P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si (96.1%) > MN + MC RD (30.3%) > MCRD (19.0) > MNRD (2.8%). The content of Si in straw and grain were higher in SA of P-Zn-Si and P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatments, the values of Si contents of these two treatments were non-significant compared to that in MCRD, MNRD and MC + MNRD treatments (P > 0.05, Table 4 ). The uptake of Si in straw and grain were comparable between SA of P-Zn-Si and P + MCRD + 50%RDP + FA of Zn + Si treatments (P > 0.05, Table 4 ) and values of these two treatments were significantly higher than that of other treatments (P < 0.05, Table 4 ). The content of soil available Si in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment was significantly higher than other treatments at harvest (P 0.05, Table 4 ). Table 4 Silicon content and uptake in grain and straw of HYV rice (variety: CAU R1) as influenced by different methods of silicon application in strongly acid infertile soil from field experiment-I Si content in Grain (%) Si uptake by Grain (kg ha − 1 ) Si content in Straw (%) Si uptake by Straw (kg ha − 1 ) Soil available Si (mg kg − 1 ) Control 1.00 ± 0.02 a 28.53 ± 5.37 a 3.31 ± 0.70 a 159.0 ± 20.20 a 33.68 ± 3.54 a MCRD 1.49 ± 0.16 ab 49.88 ± 6.91 b 5.29 ± 0.15 bc 313.0 ± 15.32 bc 34.98 ± 4.02 a MNRD 1.34 ± 0.12 ab 38.75 ± 7.03 ab 5.05 ± 0.20 b 254.5 ± 21.89 ab 37.62 ± 3.29 a MN + MC RD 1.55 ± 0.18 b 57.47 ± 6.92 b 6.04 ± 0.26 bc 394.7 ± 17.65 c 42.74 ± 3.77 a Soil P, Zn & Si application 1.71 ± 0.01 b 111.95 ± 15.26 c 6.74 ± 0.19 c 597.6 ± 26.92 d 51.98 ± 3.61 b P & MC RD + Foliar Zn and Si + 50% RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ) 1.64 ± 0.08 b 91.36 ± 1.23 c 6.64 ± 0.21 c 523.0 ± 11.31 d 40.80 ± 3.84 a Values are mean for four replicates ± standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey’s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means. In Experiment II, t he chlorophyll index of fresh rice leaves at 60 DAT among different treatments including 100% RDP were non-significant (P > 0.05, Table 5 ). Dry shoot biomass at 60 DAT was significantly higher in MNRD + 50%RDP than that of other treatments (P 0.05, Table 5 ) and the lowest value was in 100% RDP treatments. Each of the root growth parameters (dry root wt., root length and root volume) at 60 DAT varied significantly among different nutrient regimes (P 0.05) However, these values are significantly higher than that of 100% RDP treatment (P < 0.05, Table, 5). Soil available Si was significantly higher in MN + MC root-dip + 50%RDP (P < 0.05, Table, 5) while 100% RDF had the lowest value. Table 5 Effect of multi-nutrient root dip method on plant growth and nutrient content in fertile acid soil from farmer’s field (field experiment II) at 60 DAT Treatment Chlorophyll index Shoot Dry wt (t ha − 1 ) Root dry wt (t ha − 1 ) Si content in shoot (%) Si uptake in shoot (kg ha − 1 ) Si content in root (%) Si uptake in root (kg ha − 1 ) Soil Avl.Si (mg kg − 1 ) 100%RDF 30.21 ± 0.23 a 6.72 ± 0.23 a 1.21 ± 0.05 a 3.94 ± 0.19 a 263.3 ± 17.02 a 2.47 ± 0.17 a 30.02 ± 5.30 a 57.0 ± 1.0 a MNRD + 50% RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ) 30.66 ± 0.17 a 9.48 ± 0.16 c 2.35 ± 0.12 c 6.01 ± 0.26 b 569.4 ± 21.28 c 2.99 ± 0.24 ab 69.95 ± 9.25 b 58.6 ± 0.8 ab MNRD + MCRD + 50% RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ) 31.28 ± 0.21 a 8.45 ± 0.33 b 2.13 ± 0.18 bc 6.46 ± 0.28 b 545.1 ± 22.38 bc 3.33 ± 0.21 b 71.36 ± 12.04 b 62.1 ± 0.8 b P & MC RD + Foliar Zn and Si + 50% RDP (30 kg P 2 O 5 ) 31.08 ± 0.19 a 7.81 ± 0.21 b 1.65 ± 0.12 ab 6.29 ± 0.24 b 491.5 ± 20.41 b 3.40 ± 0.29 b 55.00 ± 10.36 b 59.2 ± 0.8 ab Values are mean for five replicates ± standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey’s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means At harvest, the yield attributes like number of panicles per hill, grain yield of four nutrient management regimes were comparable (P > 0.05, Fig. 4 ) and higher numbers were in order of P + MC root-dip + 50%RDP + Zn-Si foliar > 100% RDP > MN + MC root-dip + 50% RDP > MN root dip + 50% RDP. Though there was no statistical significant different in grain yield among four nutrient management regimes (P > 0.05), higher grain yield was in order of P + MC root-dip + 50%RDP + Zn-Si foliar > 100% RDP > MN + MC root-dip + 50% RDP > MN root dip + 50% RDP (Fig. 4 ). Straw yield among 100% RDP, MN + MC root-dip + 50% RDP and MN root dip + 50% RDP treatments were comparable (P > 0.05, Fig. 4 ). 4. Discussion Silicon has the beneficial role in rice but the larger requirement of Si and higher price of Si fertilizer couldn’t get afford of using this beneficial to our poor farmers. Seedling root dip method is one of the most practicable methods regarding this problem. However, limited information is available on the use of the seedling root dip method for Si fertilization. But many researchers use Si as foliar application, soil application, Hydroponic and seed priming [30–32]. In this investigation, rice seedlings in clay loam (CL) retained more soil slurry compared to those in sandy clay loam (SCL), leading to greater Si transfer in CL. This effect was also influenced by root traits, with HYV and HYB exhibiting larger root volume and architecture than TDR. The Si concentration in the slurry plays a crucial role; while higher levels enhance the transferable Zn through adhered slurry, excessively high concentrations can hinder Si absorption by seedlings during the 10-hour dipping, irrespective of soil type or rice variety. A comparable trend was observed earlier for P in rice [12]. The level of Si uptake differed significantly depending on the rice cultivar and the soil characteristics. Among the tested varieties, HYV recorded the highest Si concentration and uptake, followed by HYB and TDR (Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). This may be due to genetic improvements in hybrid cultivars which have higher productivity and greater nutrient demands, potentially increasing the requirement of Si compared to other rice types. These HYVs show markedly higher activity and efficiency of silicon transporter genes, enabling increased absorption of silicic acid from the soil solution and its targeted allocation to leaves and grains, the key tissues contributing to higher yield and associated benefits [33]. With respect to soil type, the highest Si uptake occurred when slurry prepared from clay loam (CL) contained higher Si concentrations, compared to sandy clay loam (SCL), independent of rice variety (Fig. 2 , Table 2 ). Clay loam, owing to its finer particles and higher charge density, retains more silicon and facilitates greater plant uptake than sandy clay loam. The higher clay content offers additional binding sites and prolongs silicon availability in the soil solution, whereas the coarser sand particles in sandy clay loam promote faster drainage and reduced nutrient retention [34]. Based on the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve, the recommended Si application rates in SRD-Si slurry were 275, 225, and 225 mg kg⁻¹ in SCL, and 325, 225, and 175 mg kg⁻¹ in CL for HYB, HYV, and TDR rice varieties, respectively (Fig. 2 ). A similar approach was earlier applied to assess phosphorus requirements in different crops, which produced varying outcomes [12, 25, 26]. Moreover, In the SRD-Si slurry treatment, rice seedlings absorbed an additional ≈ 20–28 mg Si g⁻¹ dry biomass across all three rice varieties and soil types within 10 hours of incubation. The Si retained on roots ranged between 1.42 ± 0.044 and 2.59 ± 0.095 mg per plant, which can be carried along during transplanting and serve as a localized nutrient source in micro-doses. Such micro-dosing strategies are recognized for improving crop yield and fertilizer efficiency [35, 36], making this a promising Si management option for transplanted rice. In experiment I, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content at 60 DAT was higher in P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP however, chlorophyll b content was higher in control, where the more nutrient stress greater the chlorophyll b content. Similarly the carotenoid content was also higher in control. Chlorophyll content in multi-nutrient root dip method was less, it may be due to the nutrient interaction (P and Zn with iron). Similar result was maintained by Alam and Shereen [37] and Soltangheisi [38]. Furthermore, Maghsoudi et al. [39], observed that applying silicon foliarly at both the tillering and anthesis stages enhanced drought tolerance in wheat by preserving membrane stability, sustaining relative water content, and boosting chlorophyll levels. Phosphorus supply in wheat increased shoot biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments and mineral nutrients while, the Cd and H 2 O 2 concentration in shoots was decreased [40]. Chlorophyll index at 60 DAT from the Experiment II was comparable among the different method of nutrient application. However, chlorophyll index was higher in MN + MC root dip + 50% RDP and P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP than others. Application of Si increased the SPAD chlorophyll, net assimilation and relative growth rate in sorghum which can help to resist in drought [41] and the positive effect on chlorophyll content, moisture content, gas exchange properties dry matter accumulation and yield of sugarcane was recorded by application of Ca-silicate [42]. According to Arough et al [43], the use of biofertilizer and nano zinc oxide under water-deficit conditions enhanced grain yield, chlorophyll concentration, antioxidant enzyme activity, quantum yield, stomatal conductance, and relative water content, while reducing electrical conductivity. Similarly the chlorophyll index from the framers fields was increased with microbial consortium amended treatments. MDA content at 60 DAT was highest at control and lowest at P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP. Application of phosphorus reduced the MDA content which may be due to the reduction of stress. Similarly arsenic treated rice seedlings increased MDA content significantly on an average about 65% above water control however, phosphorus applied with arsenic reduced the MDA content from 65 − 22% [44]. Increasing MDA content indicate membrane damage due to peroxidation, serving to enhance the production of ROS which subsequently results in oxidative stress [45, 46]. At 60 DAT, cell membrane stability was greatest under the control treatment and lowest when P, Zn, and Si were applied to the soil and P + MC root dip, foliar Zn and Si, and 50% RDP. Lower injury indicated a higher cell membrane stability under water deficit and higher N levels [47]. In Experiment I, the Si content in shoot and root at vegetative stage, was higher in soil application of P, Zn and Si while at harvest, the silicon content in straw was comparable in soil application with foliar application while in grain the Si content was comparable in soil application of P, Zn and Si, P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP and MN + MC root dip + 50% RDP. Foliar spray of Si at 0.1% − 0.2% with sodium silicate improve Si nutrition [48]. Silicon uptake at 60 DAT in both shoot and root was higher in soil application of P, Zn and Si followed by P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP. Jawahar and Vaiyapuri [49] reported that applying 45 kg S ha⁻¹ along with 120 kg Si ha⁻¹ significantly improved rice yield (grain and straw) and the uptake of N, P, K, S, and Si in nearly neutral soils at Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu. The result clearly shows that that the application of nutrient in seedling root-dip only cannot support the plant growth up to the maturity stage. The SRD treatment along with foliar application of Zn and Si and 50% recommended doses of P ( i.e . P + MC root dip + foliar application of Zn and Si + 50% RDP) was comparable with soil application of P-Zn-Si in respect of Si content and uptake in grain and straw. Similarly, the Si content at 60 DAT from the experiment II was comparable in root dip treatment with multinutrient and foliar application of Si while both the treatments were combined with 50% RDP. The silicon uptake was higher in multi nutrient root dip with 50% RDP while in root Si uptake was comparable in root dip with foliar application of Si. Overall, applying Si through both SRD and foliar methods enhanced its concentration and uptake in rice straw and grain grown on the acidic soils of North East India. Soil available silicon from the experiment I showed the Si content in soil at different growth stages was higher in soil application of Si while in Experiment II at 60DAT soil available silicon was higher in MN + MC root dip + 50% RDP. At harvest, the yield increase over control in Experiment I was SA of P-Zn-Si (130%) > P + MCRD + Zn-Si foliar + 50% RDP (96.12%) > MN + MCRD (30.28%) > MCRD (19.01) > MNRD (2.82%). From this experiment showed that only multi-nutrient root dip method may not significantly increase the grain yield over control however, multi-nutrient root dip with microbial consortium increase grain yield up to 30.28% over control. The yield reduction observed with multi-nutrient root dip might be due to nutrient interactions that lower nutrient availability to plants, and because MNRD alone may not sufficiently support crop growth until maturity. However, the presence of microbial consortium may also increase the solubility of nutrients and improve grain yield. Bacteria like Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Arthobacter sp., Enterobacter sp., Rhizobium sp. can solubilise silicon from insoluble silicates [50–53] and some of the Silicate solubilising bacteria (SSB) can also solubilise P, K and Zn 81 and improve the soil fertility and plant productivity including yield [50]. Similarly in our findings the no of panicles per hill, grain yield and straw yield were increased with application of microbial consortium + multi-nutrient root dip over control and that of only multi-nutrient root dip. Similar report of Grain yields was given by Sanusan et al. [54] that rice grains were maximized by a rate of 60 kg P ha − 1 compare to 15 and 30kg P ha − 1 in acid soil (pH 5.05) Thailand. While in case of Experiment II, when the Si application under different mode of applications along with 50% of RDP increased the yield of rice and comparable with the 100% RDP. These results clearly showed that the application of 50%RDP along with Si irrespective of application (SRD/foliar) can compare and improve the yield against 100% RDF by saving 50% of P fertilizers in another side. Further the Efficiency of Si in Rice under acidic soil need to clarify under the long term experiment. 5. Conclusion This investigation introduced the optimal silicon dosage (utilizing Na 2 O 3 Si.9H 2 O amended soil-water slurry) for seedling root dipping in three distinct rice varieties: Traditional, HYV and hybrid under two acidic soils: sandy clay loam and clay loam of transplanted rice. The critical doses of silicon are dependent on different rice and soil types. Overall, the critical nutrient limits of Si dose for SRD of rice was in the increasing order of Hybrid > HYV ≥ traditional rice. Although the sole application of Si in seedling root dipping or its combination with a microbial consortium didn’t achieve yields comparable to the conventional method of its application, there is a promising approach. By combining the Si application through seedling root dipping or foliar application with 50% recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP), yields could be on par with those from the conventional methods of farmer practices (100% recommended dose of fertilizers) and additionally can save up to 50%. P fertilizers input. As a result, the recommended strategy involves applying silicon alongside 50% RDP. This not only enhances nutrient utilization efficiency but also sustains higher rice yields in the acidic soils of the North east region of India. Declarations The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the paper. Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests. Funding This research was conducted without any specific funding or financial support from external sources. Author Contribution M.H.D.—writing—original draft preparation, writing—review and editing, conduct experiments, analyzed the data, and prepared the figures and tables. D.T.— conceptualized, and supervised the study; methodology, approved the final draft. Both the authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Acknowledgements The first author was supported by University Grants Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi under the Scheme Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for pursuing this Doctoral Research (Award Letter No. F1-17.1/2014-15/RGNF-2014-15-SC-MAN-77347/(SA-III/Website) Dtd. 25 February, 2015 in the College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya, India Data Availability No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study. References Eswaran H, Reich P, Beinroth F (1997) Global distribution of soils with acidity. Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH. In : Moniz, A. C. (ed.) Brazilian Soil Science Society, Brazil 159 − 64 Maji AK, Obi Reddy GP Sarkar D (2012) Acid soils of India- their extent and spatial variability, NBSS Publ. No. 145, NBSS&LUP, Nagpur, 138 Awasthi JP, Saha B, Regon P, Sahoo S, Chowra U, Pradhan A. et al (2017) Morpho-physiological analysis of tolerance to aluminium toxicity in rice varieties of North East India. 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DOI: 10.1007/s12633-019-0079-2 Lee K-E, Adhikari A, Kang S-M, You Y-H, Joo G-J, Kim J-H, Kim S-J, Lee I-J (2019) Isolation and characterization of the high silicate and phosphate solubilizing novel strain Enterobacterludwigii GAK2 that promotes growth in rice plants. Agronomy. 9: 144. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy9030144 Bist V, Niranjan A, Ranjan M, Lehri A, Seem K, Srivastava S (2020) Silicon-solubilizing media and its implication for characterization of bacteria to mitigate biotic stress. Front. Plant Sci. 11: 28. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00028 Sanusan S, Polthanee A, Seripong S, Audebert A, Mouret JC (2009) Rates and timing of phosphorus fertilizer on growth and yield of direct-seeded rice in rain-fed conditions. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B – Soil and Plant Science. 29: 491–499. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7532454","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":515463878,"identity":"87144e1b-4914-48c8-8f11-de73b241a12a","order_by":0,"name":"Mayanglambam Homeshwari Devi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAz0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFCCBCCq+M/DD2YXEK3lDLOMZAOIbUCsFsY2ZhuDAyAOMVp025OPSTxgY+MxPr868cMDAwZ5frED+LWYnXmWJpHAw8NjduPtZgmgwwxnzk4goOVGjrFBgoQEUMvZDSAtCQa3CWrJ/2yQYGDAYzzj7OYfRGrJYXyQkJDAY8Dfu41IW848M3yQcOAAj8QN3m0WCQYSRPjlePKDgz//HbDn7z+7+eaPCht5fmkCWhBAAqxSgljlIMB/gBTVo2AUjIJRMJIAALJURh0nj5w+AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Central Agricultural University (Imphal)","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mayanglambam","middleName":"Homeshwari","lastName":"Devi","suffix":""},{"id":515463880,"identity":"10f053d7-9ff3-4eb4-86d0-ed68eab29aa8","order_by":1,"name":"Dwipendra Thakuria","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Central Agricultural University (Imphal)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dwipendra","middleName":"","lastName":"Thakuria","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-09-04 05:53:22","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":91468103,"identity":"17af0af8-c095-4b98-be36-09397e1cde6f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-16 19:11:44","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":184662,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBird’s-eye view of incubation experiments with three rice types grown in two strongly acidic soils\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7532454/v1/03bac6ec37dac99282396264.jpg"},{"id":91468105,"identity":"d2edf514-e25c-44ba-8fdc-4f98f95999ee","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-16 19:11:44","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":477240,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe critical dose of Si in SRD-Si methods in three different rice types under two strongly acid soils\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7532454/v1/f902c479d243b4edb8c80bf8.jpg"},{"id":91468242,"identity":"08232053-2a0e-4882-8830-713d537054e3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-16 19:19:44","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":60184,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eYield attributes of rice under different silicon application methods in Experiment I.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig3.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7532454/v1/ad7d9b7878fc98eb63615654.jpg"},{"id":91468241,"identity":"259bb029-a83c-4344-9773-82b2e2481902","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-16 19:19:44","extension":"jpg","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":52505,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eYield attributes of rice under different silicon application methods in Experiment II.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig4.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7532454/v1/eec03792bea2efafdc94dc48.jpg"},{"id":94473854,"identity":"ae56d206-f0eb-4d2d-bcfb-30f92586fc41","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-27 15:45:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2320464,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7532454/v1/968c3469-4a95-4db5-b9b0-f9f064680c80.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Silicon-enhanced seedling root-dipping for transplanted rice in acidic soil","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eRice cultivation in acidic soils poses major challenges for sustainable agriculture and crop productivity. Acidic soils, marked by low pH and nutrient imbalances, hinder rice growth and development. Globally, about 26% of ice-free land faces soil acidity constraints [1]. In India, nearly 28% of the total geographical area (TGA) is acidic, with 9.3% strongly to moderately acidic (pH\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5.5) and 18.9% slightly acidic (pH 5.5\u0026ndash;6.5). The North Eastern Region (NER) is most affected, where over 81% of TGA suffers from soil acidity, including 5.6\u0026nbsp;million ha with pH below 4.5 [2]. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major constraint, restricting root growth, nutrient uptake, and cell function. It also aggravates phosphorus deficiency, reducing productivity in nearly 67% of acidic soils [3\u0026ndash;5].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSilicon (Si), though not classified as an essential nutrient, has been widely recognized for its beneficial role in strengthening plant stress tolerance, improving nutrient-use efficiency, and mitigating abiotic stresses such as soil acidity, Al toxicity, thereby improving P deficiency caused by acidity. These benefits occur through soil-mediated mechanisms, such as reducing phosphate adsorption by competing with phosphate ions for binding sites, as well as plant-mediated processes that enhance tolerance to metal stress [6]. Although some studies report inconsistent effects of Si on soil P availability, it is generally accepted that Si supply improves P utilization in acidic soils by reducing the uptake of toxic metals, including Al, Mn, Fe, and Cd [7, 8]. The role of Si in alleviating Al toxicity has been documented in several crops, including rice, wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, and soybean, with mechanisms involving increased soil solution pH, reduced Al bioavailability, and internal detoxification through hydroxyl alumino-silicate (HAS) formation [9,10].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong emerging nutrient management techniques, seedling root-dipping (SRD) in enriched nutrient slurry offers a simple, cost-effective strategy to supply localized micro-doses of nutrients at transplanting. The practice of dipping rice seedling roots in a P solution or slurry has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method of P fertilization of rice [11\u0026ndash;13], while also enhancing the application of applied phosphorus in soils with high phosphorus fixation [12,14]. Similarly the beneficial impact of root-dipping yellow lupin in a slurry amended with phosphorus and zinc has been reported [15]. However, little is known about the potential of Si-enriched slurry in SRD for transplanted rice. This study therefore investigates the optimum Si concentration for SRD across hybrid (HYB), high-yielding (HYV), and traditional (TDR) rice cultivars in two different soil textures (sandy clay loam and clay), which is commonly cultivated rice in NEH region, India and compares its efficiency with conventional nutrient management practices under field conditions.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Material and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1. Description of soils\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor determining critical doses of Si, an incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory by using two acid soils which is mostly cultivated rice in Meghalaya (India) belong to soil textural class sandy clay loam (SCL) and clay loam (CL). The SCL soil was collected from the Experimental Farm field, College of Post Graduate Studies, CAU-Imphal, Umiam, Meghalaya and the CL soil was collected from a micro-watershed area at Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya. From each site, the soil furrow slice (0\u0026ndash;15 cm depth) from 1 m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e area collected in bulk quantity. Soils are allowed to dry under shade till friable consistency and removed all visible root bits, dead plant parts and stones, etc. Then soils were passed through 2 mm sieve, air-dried and stored for determination of soil physico-chemical properties and subsequent use in incubation experiment on seedling root-dip treatment. The orders of SCL and CL soils are \u003cem\u003eInceptisol\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAlfisol\u003c/em\u003e, respectively as per USDA taxonomy. The occurrence of these two textural classes is common in rice fields of North East India. Both soils fall under strongly acid soil category. Among soil chemical properties, values of SOC content and exchangeable Al content of SCL soil was significantly lower (1.85% and 0.5 meq 100\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e g soil, respectively) compared to CL soil (2.62% and 0.5 meq 100\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e g soil, respectively). Following the determination of the critical Si dose for SRD in silicon amended Soil Slurry method through incubation experiments (explained in the subsequent paragraphs), two independent field experiments was conducted in subsequent years. The first year field experiment (experiment I), was conducted in infertile acid soil (SCL, soil texture) at CPGS experimental farm, Meghalaya and the 2nd year field experiment (Experiment II) was conducted in fertile acid soil, (CL, Soil texture) at Kakching, Manipur for testing the efficacy of SRD in Si Soil Slurry method of Si management in transplanted (\u003cem\u003ekharif\u003c/em\u003e) rice (HYV: CAU R1). The geographical detail, origin and history of the fields and their respective initial physiochemical properties for both the incubation experimental soil experimental rice field were given in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil origin, management history, and physico-chemical characteristics of soils used in incubation and field experiments\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil properties\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIncubation exp\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(SCL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIncubation exp\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eField Experiment I\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eField Experiment II\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReference\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOrigin\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCPGS experimental field, Umiam\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicro-watershed area, Nongpoh\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCPGS experimental\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003efield, Umiam\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eKakching Turel Wangma, Kakching\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGeographical location\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026deg;41ʼN, 91\u0026deg;54ʼE\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e950 m above msl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026deg;54ʼN, 91\u0026deg; 53ʼE\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e485 m above msl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u0026deg;41ʼN, 91\u0026deg;54ʼE\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e950 m above msl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e24\u0026deg;48\u0026rsquo;N, 93\u0026deg;98\u0026rsquo;E, 776 m above msl\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eManagement history\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRice monocropping\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRice monocropping\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRice monocropping\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRice-Mustard cropping\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% Coarse Sand\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlack [ 16]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% Fine Sand\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% Silt\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% Clay\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil textural class\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSandy clay loam (SCL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClay loam (CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSandy clay loam (SCL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eClay loam (CL)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBulk density (g cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlack [16]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaximum water holding capacity (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e48.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePiper [ 17]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003epH (1:2.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.98\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.85\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eJackson [18 ]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Organic Carbon (g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e soil)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.002\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.011\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.17\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.003\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.009\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWalkley and Black [19]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Avl N (kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e251\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e276\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e258\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e288\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSubbiah and Asija [20]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Avl P (kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.91\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.70\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.02\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBray and Kurtz [ 21]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Avl K (kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e210\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e228\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e241\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHanway and Heidel [22]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Avl Si (mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e soil)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.01\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.05\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaysom and Chapman [23]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReadily soluble Al\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e soil)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.41\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.16\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHoyt and Webber [24 ]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues are means\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviations, n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5 replicate analysis\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.2. Raising of rice seedlings for incubation experiment\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThree rice types namely hybrid (HYB, variety: \u003cem\u003eArize-6444\u003c/em\u003e), high yielding variety (HYV, variety: \u003cem\u003eRanjit\u003c/em\u003e) and traditional landrace rice (TDR, local name: \u003cem\u003eMendri\u003c/em\u003e) were selected for use in the incubation experiment. Healthy disease free seeds of three rice types were sown separately in nursery bed of 1 m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e area. Rice seedling nursery bed was prepared as per the standard package of practices. In brief, finely tilt raised seedling bed (10 cm depth) was prepared, broadcasted finely grounded dry compost @ 2 t ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (200 g per 1 m\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e bed) and then the overnight soaked rice seeds in water sown on the nursery bed followed incorporation of seeds in soil by light hoeing. Soil moisture was maintained approximate at the field capacity level and excess rainwater was drained out to avoid stagnation. Twenty one days old rice seedlings were carefully uprooted and their roots rinsed under running tap water to remove adhered soils. Then uniform seedlings were sorted out and the root portion was again rinsed with 3 changes of distilled water. The fresh weight of each seedling was measured, after which they were prepared for the incubation experiment. The uprooting of rice seedling to rinsing with distilled water was accomplished within an hour and used immediately for root-dipping treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.3. Incubation experiment\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAltogether, 162 beakers (9 doses of Si x 3 replications x 3 rice types x 2 soil types\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;162 beakers) were arranged. Each beaker (500 ml capacity) contained soil:water slurry composed of 100 g soil plus 40 ml water (2.5:1) for SCL soil and 100 g soil plus 50 ml water (2:1) for CL soil [12,25,26]. The graded concentrations of Si (as Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO) ranged from 0 to 400 mg Si kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e soil at 50 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e interval (0,50,100,150,200,250,300,350, and 400 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) was added in soil:water slurry in each of 162 beakers (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The soil:water slurry with no Si addition (0 mg Si kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e soil) was treated as control. In each beaker 5 uniform rice seedlings (21 days old) were placed and incubated for 10 h at room temperature (23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.5 \u003csup\u003e0\u003c/sup\u003eC) during night. After incubation, each treated seedlings were removed and slurry adhered to the roots was collected by washing (with double distill water) in a beaker. This diluted slurry was used for Si analysis to determine the amount of Si that could be transferred along with the seedlings. After collecting the adhered slurry, the seedlings were rinsed again in 0.01 N HCl followed by double distilled water and allowed to air-dry. Then washed samples were kept inside oven at 60\u0026ordm;C till the constant weight and the dry weight of each seedling was also determined. The dried seedlings (whole plant including root) were grounded using Laboratory Willey Mill (Secor Make, India) and analysed for tissue Si concentration. Moreover, available Si content was also determined in the left over soil-water slurry [12, 25, 26]. The Si content and uptake curve against the graded doses of Slurry Si was drawn and the critical concentration of Si dose was determined by using Cate and Nelson [27, 28] procedure.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.4. Field experiments\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first year field experiment (Experiment I) was remained under rice mono-cropping, while in second year field experiment (experiment II ) was under Rice- mustard cropping system for last 5 years. The experiment I, was conducted at College of Post Graduate Studies Experimental Farm, Central Agricultural University, Umiam, District Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya). The mean maximum and minimum temperature during the crop growth period was ranging from 24.11\u0026deg;C to 29.34\u0026deg;C and 8.06\u0026deg;C to 19.59\u0026deg;C. The mean morning and evening relative humidity was ranging from 81.29\u0026ndash;91.71% and 52.71\u0026ndash;86% respectively and the wind speed was in the range of 0.96 to 3.46 km h\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e. The total rainfall during the crop period was 1942.2 mm. The rice field was divided into 24 plots of 6 m\u0026sup2; each and arranged in a randomized block design with six treatments, including a control, various root-dip methods (microbial, multi-nutrient, and combined), conventional soil applications of P, Zn, and Si, (60 kg P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as SSP, Zn @ 5 kg Zn ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as ZnSO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e.7H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO and Si @ 120 kg Si ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO) and a treatment combining P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;microbial consortium (MC) root dip with foliar Zn and Si and reduced phosphorus dose (i.e. 50%). MC was the combination of five microorganisms (C4: \u003cem\u003eArthobacter sp\u003c/em\u003e; I3: \u003cem\u003eKlebsiella pneumonia\u003c/em\u003e; N3: \u003cem\u003eSeratia marcescens\u003c/em\u003e; P5: \u003cem\u003eEnterobacter sp\u003c/em\u003e and B1: \u003cem\u003ePseudomonas putida\u003c/em\u003e) @ 4 kg ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as per seedling root-dip technique. Every plots except control received nitrogen (80 kg N ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as urea and potassium (40 kg K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as muriate of potash) fertilizers, with urea applied in three splits, and a constant water depth of 5 cm was maintained until grain filling; in the multi-nutrient root dip (K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eHPO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e @ 88 mg P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e soil, ZnSO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e.7H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO @ 0.22 mg Zn kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e soil and Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO @ 225 mg Si kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e soil), rice seedlings were soaked overnight in a soil-water slurry containing phosphorus, zinc, and silicon before transplanting. Plant protection measures were applied as needed following standard recommendations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe second year field experiment (experiment II) was conducted at farmer\u0026rsquo;s field in Kakching, Kakching district, Manipur. The maximum and minimum temperature during the crop season was in the range of 23.39\u0026deg;C to 31.86\u0026deg;C and 7.81\u0026deg;C to 23.03\u0026deg;C and the respective morning and evening relative humidity was ranging from 84.57\u0026ndash;96.43% and 50.29\u0026ndash;87.29%. The wind speed was in the range of 2.43 to 5.01 km h\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e.The total rainfall during the crop period was 1139.7 mm. The rice field was divided into 20 nos. of uniform plots and each plot size was 32 sqm (4 m x 8m) and arranged in randomized block design. Four treatments were tested: (1) 100% Recommended Dose of Phosphorus (RDP; 60 kg P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003eas SSP), (2) multinutrient root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP (30 kg P\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e), (3) multinutrient and microbial consortium root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP (4) phosphorus and microbial consortium root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn (0.5%) and Si (1.0%)\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP. All the treatment plots received N @ 80 kg ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as urea and K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO @ 40 kg ha\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e as muriate of potash. A constant stagnant water level (5 cm) was maintained in the plot till the grain filling stage. For the soil slurry root-dip (SRD) treatment, seedlings were dipped overnight in a slurry containing SSP (88 mg P₂O₅ kg⁻\u0026sup1; soil), ZnSO₄\u0026middot;7H₂O (1.24 mg Zn kg⁻\u0026sup1; soil), and Na₂O₃Si\u0026middot;9H₂O (225 mg Si kg⁻\u0026sup1; soil) before transplanting. Crop protection measures were adopted as per standard recommendations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor plant parameter observations, ten hills per plot were marked. In both experiments I and II, chlorophyll content were measured at 60 DAT. The marked hills was harvested, threshed, and separated into grain and straw, which were cleaned, oven-dried at 60\u0026deg;C, and ground for Si analysis in Experiment I, while the plant parameters like shoot and root biomass, silicon content and uptake in shoot and root and Available Si content were determined at 60DAT in Experiment II. Grain and straw yields were calculated from both the experimental fields on a hectare basis, and Si uptake was estimated by multiplying Si content (%) with respective biomass yields.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Equa\" class=\"Equation\"\u003e\u003cdiv format=\"TEX\" class=\"mathdisplay\" id=\"FileID_Equa\" name=\"EquationSource\"\u003e\n$$\\:\\text{S}\\text{i}\\:\\text{U}\\text{p}\\text{t}\\text{a}\\text{k}\\text{e}\\:(\\text{m}\\text{g}/\\text{g}\\:\\text{S}\\text{t}\\text{r}\\text{a}\\text{w}\\:\\text{o}\\text{r}\\:\\text{g}\\text{r}\\text{a}\\text{i}\\text{n})=\\frac{\\text{S}\\text{t}\\text{r}\\text{a}\\text{w}\\:\\text{o}\\text{r}\\:\\text{G}\\text{r}\\text{a}\\text{i}\\text{n}\\:\\text{y}\\text{i}\\text{e}\\text{l}\\text{d}\\:\\text{X}\\text{%}\\text{S}\\text{i}}{100}$$\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5. Soil and plant tissue analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA composite soil sample from the five soil cores (0\u0026ndash;15 cm depth) per plot were pooled at the harvest time for experiment I and at 60 DAT for field Experiment II. The collected samples were air dried and analysed for pH and soil Available Si as per standard methods (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Plant silicon concentration was analyzed using the alkaline fusion method, followed by a colorimetric assay [29]. The Si concentration was measured using spectrophotometer at 820 nm. The content of Si in plant tissue was expressed in percentage (%).The uptake of nutrient in biomass was determined by multiplying nutrient content (%) with biomass yield incorporating dilution factor.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.6. Statistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data were analyzed using 2-factorial analysis of variance (two way ANOVA) with SPSS v.25 to examine the individual and interaction effects of Si concentration in slurry on both soil types (SCL and CL) and rice varieties. Subsequently, pairwise comparisons among the mean values for each parameter within each factor (concentration, varieties and soil types) were conducted using Tukey\u0026rsquo;s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. For field experiments, every parameter reported in this investigation, the six nutrient management treatments were analyzed for differences among means (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) by performing one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) and the Tukey\u0026rsquo;s Honestly Significance Difference test at P\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05 for pair-wise comparisons among treatment means. For field experiment-II, paired t-test (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05) was performed to test the significance difference between treatment means.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe physico chemical properties of initial soil in both incubation and field experiments are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. Both soils are strongly acidic, with SCL being more acidic than CL. However, soil available-N and -P, maximum water holding capacity, soil organic carbon and exchangeable Al are higher in CL than in SCL, but there is comparable soil available Si between the two soils (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The dry weight of 21-day-old rice seedlings ranged from 0.06 to 0.09 g per beaker for HYV rice, 0.08 to 0.13 g per beaker for HYB and 0.11 to 0.15 g per beaker for TDR rice. Within each rice type, the differences in seedling dry biomass weight among treatment were statistically at par (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, one-way ANOVA; data not presented). In the experiment, soil adhered to the seedling roots were on average, 20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.8 g plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in SCL and 28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.1 g plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in CL. The amount of Si in this soil (which can be transferred along with the seedlings during transplanting) ranged from 1.42\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.044 mg plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (Mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE) in SCL to 2.59\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.095 mg plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in CL.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.1. Effect of Si -content and \u0026ndash;uptake by SRD-Si in Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO Soil slurry under different concentrations\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter 10 hr of dipping in SRD-Si treatment, the Si uptake by the rice seedling was significantly affected by soil texture, with 18.91% higher uptake was observed in CL compared to SCL (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Two-way ANOVA; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Rice variety also significantly affected on Si -content and -uptake in the seedlings. On both soils, the HYV variety showed significantly higher uptake, followed by HYB and TDR in that order (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The Si concentration in the soil slurry of SRD-Si also significantly affected on both parameters, (Si -content and -uptake; P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). The highest Si content and uptake was observed at 250 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e of Si concentration in the slurry, with the lowest observed at control mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e(Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e) irrespective to the soil types. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant interactions among soil texture and variety, soil texture and slurry Si concentration, variety and slurry Si concentration, as well as the combined effect of soil texture, variety, and slurry Si concentration (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSilicon content and uptake by rice seedlings using SRD methods, and residual available Si in slurry from the incubation experiment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi Uptake\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg plant\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi Content\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil available Si\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"12\" rowspan=\"13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSandy Clay Loam\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"8\" rowspan=\"9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSi concentration in the slurry (mg kg\u003c/b\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83.53\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.74 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.174 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.46\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.78 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e86.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.91 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.191 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.87 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e90.53\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.44 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.144 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.19\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.51 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.67 \u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.167 \u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e67.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.73 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e200\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.61\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.35 \u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.760.135\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.13 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e108.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.25 \u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.325 \u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.84 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e102.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.70 \u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.22\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.270 \u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e79.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.98 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e350\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.75 \u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.275 \u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.96 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e89.84\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.05 \u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.980.305\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e86.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.65 \u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRice Varieties\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHYV\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.49 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.149 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.76\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.03 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHYB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.59\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.52 \u003csup\u003eAB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.152 \u003csup\u003eAB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e53.96\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.08 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTRD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.40 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.240 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e86.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.29 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e93.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.92\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.992\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e71.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;19.86\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"12\" rowspan=\"13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCay Loam\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"8\" rowspan=\"9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSi concentration in the slurry (mg kg\u003c/b\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e93.73\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.87 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.387 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.44\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.62 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.73 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.373 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70.51\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.84 \u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e103.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.59 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.459 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.54 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e150\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e112.56\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.17 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.26\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.517 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e81.50\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.76 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e200\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e121.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.95 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.595 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e86.57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.27 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e250\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e130.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.90 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.03\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.890 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e89.62\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.62 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e300\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e120.83\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.14 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.714 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e96.02\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;11.07 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e350\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e117.73\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.46 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.77\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.846 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e101.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.17 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e108.53\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.47 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.85\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.647 \u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e111.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.76 \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRice Varieties\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHYV\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e129.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.28 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.91\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.328 \u003csup\u003eC\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.45 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHYB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e114.003.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;\u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.335 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.89 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTRD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.69 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.169 \u003csup\u003eA\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e103.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.03 \u003csup\u003eB\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e111.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.26\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11.17\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.13\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e86.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;28.64\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConcentration\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVarieties\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil texture\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConcentration x Variety\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e*\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCon. x Soil texture\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ens\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVariety x soil texture\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConc. X Vari. X soil texture\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e**\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ens\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2 \u003cb\u003eAvailable Si in SRD-Si soil slurry\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter 10 hours of dipping in SRD-Si treatment, the available Si (Avl-Si) in slurry soil shows significant differences based on all the main factors: soil texture, concentration and rice variety (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 two-way ANOVA; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). CL soil shows higher Si levels (85.35 mg kg-1) compared to SCL soil (71.08 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e). However, interactions between concentration and variety, as well as between variety and soil texture, show significant effects (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). In contrast, the interactions between concentration and soil texture, and the overall interaction among concentration, variety and soil texture were not statistically significant as determined by multivariate analysis (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05; Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.3 Si dose optimization in SRD-Si soil slurry\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe optimal Si dose in SRD-Si soil slurry was determined based on 90% of the relative percentage of maximum Si uptake by rice seedlings during a 10-hour of dipping at respective concentrations in both soil types (CL and SCL) across different rice varieties (HYB, HYV and TDR), using the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve approach. In all rice varieties, the relative Si uptake in rice seedlings were initially minimal in the control, but increased with increasing Si concentration in the SRD-Si soil slurry up to a certain level, then decreased with further increases in slurry Si concentration, (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The relative Si uptake was lowest at control (No SRD-Si) irrespective of soil types. The respective relative uptake values of control in HYB, HYV and TDR rice were 76.9%, 78.6% and 70.2% in SCL while in CL the respective values were 63.3%, 66.5% and 78.2% in CL soil. Maximum relative Si uptake values (100%) were observed in the soil slurry at Si concentrations of 250 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e, 300 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e and 250 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e in SCL, and 250 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e, 350 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e and 200 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e in CL, respectively across HYB, HYV and TDR rice varieties. Beyond this point of Si concentration in the slurry, further increases in concentration up to 400 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e relatively decreased their values, in all rice varieties regardless of soil types. After using the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve approach to determine the optimum Si dose in soil slurry concentrations based on achieving 90% of the relative Si uptake by rice seedlings in SRD-Si soil slurry, optimal doses were found to be 275 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e, 225 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e and 225 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e in SCL, and 325mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e, 225 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e and 175 mg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e in CL, respectively, across HYB, HYV and TDR rice varieties (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2. Performance of SRD-Si in field conditions\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Experiment I, application of Si by different methods to transplanted rice crop positively influenced the growth and yield parameters (Chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage and grain yield, straw biomass and No of panicles per hill at harvest), and the differences between application methods in terms of these parameters were significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). The chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content at 60 DAT was significantly higher in P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment followed by in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment while Chlorophyll b was significantly lesser in P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment followed by in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Carotenoid content in leaves varied significantly among treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) and the least content of carotenoid was observed in P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment and the highest content in control (no input) treatment. The content of MDA at 60 DAT and cell membrane stability at 60 DAT among different treatments varied significantly (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), and the highest values were observed in control (no input) treatment and the lowest values in P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment. The volume of root per hill was significantly higher in SA of P-Zn-Si followed by P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si at 60 DAT (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant Growth parameters of HYV rice (variety: CAU R1) at 60 DAT as influenced by different methods of silicon application in strongly acid infertile soil from filed experiment-I\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChlorophyll a (mg g\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChlorophyll b (mg g\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal Chlorophyll\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg g\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCarotenoid\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(\u0026micro;g g\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMDA content (\u0026micro;mol g\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e FW)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCell membrane stability (electrolyte leakage %)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eControl\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.73\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.04\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.90\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.14\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMCRD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.67\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.0 \u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e36.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.83\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.79\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.93\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMNRD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.24\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.72\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e23.03\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.06\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e68.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.43\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC RD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.07\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.14\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.81\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.76\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.17\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e65.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.39\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil P, Zn \u0026amp; Si application\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.24\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.51\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.81\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.41\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.72\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e59.03\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.08\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eP \u0026amp; MC RD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Foliar Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (30 kg P\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003eO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.83\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.99\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e58.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.61\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues are mean for four replicates\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey\u0026rsquo;s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe effects of MCRD, MNRD and their combination (MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD) were comparable in chlorophyll-a and total chlorophyll contents at 60 DAT and their values were significantly lower than that in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), whereas values were comparable or higher than that in control treatment (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). On the other hand, MCRD, MNRD and their combination (MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD) treatments were comparable in terms of the contents of chlorophyll-b, MDA, cell membrane stability, and carotenoids (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e) and their values were higher than that in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComparative effects of seedling root-dip method amended with either microbial consortium (MC) or multinutrients (P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si), soil application (P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si) and the combination of root-dip (P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC)\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application (FA) of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si on No. of grains per panicle, grain and straw yield are presented on Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. these yield attributes were significantly higher in SA of P-Zn-Si and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatments compared to that in other treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). The per cent increase in grain yield over control was in order SA of P-Zn-Si (130%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si (96.1%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC RD (30.3%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MCRD (19.0)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MNRD (2.8%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe content of Si in straw and grain were higher in SA of P-Zn-Si and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatments, the values of Si contents of these two treatments were non-significant compared to that in MCRD, MNRD and MC\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MNRD treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). The uptake of Si in straw and grain were comparable between SA of P-Zn-Si and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) and values of these two treatments were significantly higher than that of other treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). The content of soil available Si in SA of P-Zn-Si treatment was significantly higher than other treatments at harvest (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). The content of soil available Si in MCRD, MC\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MNRD and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;FA of Zn\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Si treatments were comparable and the significant lowest content was in control treatment (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSilicon content and uptake in grain and straw of HYV rice (variety: CAU R1) as influenced by different methods of silicon application in strongly acid infertile soil from field experiment-I\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi content in Grain\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi uptake by Grain (kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi content in Straw (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi uptake by Straw (kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil available Si\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eControl\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.53\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.37\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.31\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.70\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e159.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;20.20\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.68\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.54\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMCRD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.49\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.88\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.91\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.15\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e313.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;15.32\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34.98\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.02\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMNRD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.75\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.03\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.20\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e254.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.89\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.62\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.29\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC RD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.92\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.26\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e394.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;17.65\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e42.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.77\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil P, Zn \u0026amp; Si application\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.71\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e111.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;15.26\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.74\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e597.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;26.92\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e51.98\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.61\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eP \u0026amp; MC RD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Foliar Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (30 kg P\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003eO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.23\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e523.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;11.31\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.84\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues are mean for four replicates\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey\u0026rsquo;s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Experiment II, \u003cb\u003et\u003c/b\u003ehe chlorophyll index of fresh rice leaves at 60 DAT among different treatments including 100% RDP were non-significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). Dry shoot biomass at 60 DAT was significantly higher in MNRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP than that of other treatments (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). Values of dry shoot biomass were comparable between MNRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn-Si foliar (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e) and the lowest value was in 100% RDP treatments. Each of the root growth parameters (dry root wt., root length and root volume) at 60 DAT varied significantly among different nutrient regimes (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). The Si content and uptake in shoot and root biomass was comparable among the silicon added treatment irrespective of mode of application (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) However, these values are significantly higher than that of 100% RDP treatment (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table, 5). Soil available Si was significantly higher in MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Table, 5) while 100% RDF had the lowest value.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEffect of multi-nutrient root dip method on plant growth and nutrient content in fertile acid soil from farmer\u0026rsquo;s field (field experiment II) at 60 DAT\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChlorophyll index\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShoot Dry wt\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(t ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoot dry wt\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(t ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi content in shoot (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi uptake in shoot\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi content in root (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSi uptake in root\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(kg ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoil Avl.Si\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e100%RDF\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.23\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.72\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.23\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e263.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;17.02\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.17\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.02\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.30\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;1.0\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMNRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (30 kg P\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003eO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.66\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.17\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.48\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.01\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.26\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e569.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;21.28\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.99\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.24\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e69.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.25\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e58.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMNRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (30 kg P\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003eO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.33\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.13\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.18\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.46\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.28\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e545.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;22.38\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.33\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e71.36\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.04\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.8\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eP \u0026amp; MC RD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Foliar Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (30 kg P\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003eO\u003c/b\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cb\u003e5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cb\u003e)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e31.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.81\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.21\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.65\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.29\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.24\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e491.5\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;20.41\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.40\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.29\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.00\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.36\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e59.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"9\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eValues are mean for five replicates\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard error; Within a column values differed significantly are followed by different letters as determined by One-way ANOVA incorporating Tukey\u0026rsquo;s HSD test for pair-wise comparison between means\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt harvest, the yield attributes like number of panicles per hill, grain yield of four nutrient management regimes were comparable (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) and higher numbers were in order of P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn-Si foliar\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;100% RDP\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP. Though there was no statistical significant different in grain yield among four nutrient management regimes (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), higher grain yield was in order of P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50%RDP\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn-Si foliar\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;100% RDP\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Straw yield among 100% RDP, MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root-dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP and MN root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP treatments were comparable (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eSilicon has the beneficial role in rice but the larger requirement of Si and higher price of Si fertilizer couldn\u0026rsquo;t get afford of using this beneficial to our poor farmers. Seedling root dip method is one of the most practicable methods regarding this problem. However, limited information is available on the use of the seedling root dip method for Si fertilization. But many researchers use Si as foliar application, soil application, Hydroponic and seed priming [30\u0026ndash;32]. In this investigation, rice seedlings in clay loam (CL) retained more soil slurry compared to those in sandy clay loam (SCL), leading to greater Si transfer in CL. This effect was also influenced by root traits, with HYV and HYB exhibiting larger root volume and architecture than TDR. The Si concentration in the slurry plays a crucial role; while higher levels enhance the transferable Zn through adhered slurry, excessively high concentrations can hinder Si absorption by seedlings during the 10-hour dipping, irrespective of soil type or rice variety. A comparable trend was observed earlier for P in rice [12]. The level of Si uptake differed significantly depending on the rice cultivar and the soil characteristics. Among the tested varieties, HYV recorded the highest Si concentration and uptake, followed by HYB and TDR (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). This may be due to genetic improvements in hybrid cultivars which have higher productivity and greater nutrient demands, potentially increasing the requirement of Si compared to other rice types. These HYVs show markedly higher activity and efficiency of silicon transporter genes, enabling increased absorption of silicic acid from the soil solution and its targeted allocation to leaves and grains, the key tissues contributing to higher yield and associated benefits [33]. With respect to soil type, the highest Si uptake occurred when slurry prepared from clay loam (CL) contained higher Si concentrations, compared to sandy clay loam (SCL), independent of rice variety (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Clay loam, owing to its finer particles and higher charge density, retains more silicon and facilitates greater plant uptake than sandy clay loam. The higher clay content offers additional binding sites and prolongs silicon availability in the soil solution, whereas the coarser sand particles in sandy clay loam promote faster drainage and reduced nutrient retention [34].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on the Cate and Nelson [27,28] critical curve, the recommended Si application rates in SRD-Si slurry were 275, 225, and 225 mg kg⁻\u0026sup1; in SCL, and 325, 225, and 175 mg kg⁻\u0026sup1; in CL for HYB, HYV, and TDR rice varieties, respectively (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). A similar approach was earlier applied to assess phosphorus requirements in different crops, which produced varying outcomes [12, 25, 26]. Moreover, In the SRD-Si slurry treatment, rice seedlings absorbed an additional\u0026thinsp;\u0026asymp;\u0026thinsp;20\u0026ndash;28 mg Si g⁻\u0026sup1; dry biomass across all three rice varieties and soil types within 10 hours of incubation. The Si retained on roots ranged between 1.42\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.044 and 2.59\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.095 mg per plant, which can be carried along during transplanting and serve as a localized nutrient source in micro-doses. Such micro-dosing strategies are recognized for improving crop yield and fertilizer efficiency [35, 36], making this a promising Si management option for transplanted rice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn experiment I, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content at 60 DAT was higher in P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP however, chlorophyll b content was higher in control, where the more nutrient stress greater the chlorophyll b content. Similarly the carotenoid content was also higher in control. Chlorophyll content in multi-nutrient root dip method was less, it may be due to the nutrient interaction (P and Zn with iron). Similar result was maintained by Alam and Shereen [37] and Soltangheisi [38]. Furthermore, Maghsoudi et al. [39], observed that applying silicon foliarly at both the tillering and anthesis stages enhanced drought tolerance in wheat by preserving membrane stability, sustaining relative water content, and boosting chlorophyll levels. Phosphorus supply in wheat increased shoot biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic pigments and mineral nutrients while, the Cd and H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e concentration in shoots was decreased [40].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChlorophyll index at 60 DAT from the Experiment II was comparable among the different method of nutrient application. However, chlorophyll index was higher in MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP than others. Application of Si increased the SPAD chlorophyll, net assimilation and relative growth rate in sorghum which can help to resist in drought [41] and the positive effect on chlorophyll content, moisture content, gas exchange properties dry matter accumulation and yield of sugarcane was recorded by application of Ca-silicate [42]. According to Arough et al [43], the use of biofertilizer and nano zinc oxide under water-deficit conditions enhanced grain yield, chlorophyll concentration, antioxidant enzyme activity, quantum yield, stomatal conductance, and relative water content, while reducing electrical conductivity. Similarly the chlorophyll index from the framers fields was increased with microbial consortium amended treatments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMDA content at 60 DAT was highest at control and lowest at P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP. Application of phosphorus reduced the MDA content which may be due to the reduction of stress. Similarly arsenic treated rice seedlings increased MDA content significantly on an average about 65% above water control however, phosphorus applied with arsenic reduced the MDA content from 65\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;22% [44]. Increasing MDA content indicate membrane damage due to peroxidation, serving to enhance the production of ROS which subsequently results in oxidative stress [45, 46]. At 60 DAT, cell membrane stability was greatest under the control treatment and lowest when P, Zn, and Si were applied to the soil and P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip, foliar Zn and Si, and 50% RDP. Lower injury indicated a higher cell membrane stability under water deficit and higher N levels [47].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Experiment I, the Si content in shoot and root at vegetative stage, was higher in soil application of P, Zn and Si while at harvest, the silicon content in straw was comparable in soil application with foliar application while in grain the Si content was comparable in soil application of P, Zn and Si, P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP and MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP. Foliar spray of Si at 0.1% \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.2% with sodium silicate improve Si nutrition [48]. Silicon uptake at 60 DAT in both shoot and root was higher in soil application of P, Zn and Si followed by P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP. Jawahar and Vaiyapuri [49] reported that applying 45 kg S ha⁻\u0026sup1; along with 120 kg Si ha⁻\u0026sup1; significantly improved rice yield (grain and straw) and the uptake of N, P, K, S, and Si in nearly neutral soils at Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu. The result clearly shows that that the application of nutrient in seedling root-dip only cannot support the plant growth up to the maturity stage. The SRD treatment along with foliar application of Zn and Si and 50% recommended doses of P (\u003cem\u003ei.e\u003c/em\u003e. P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;foliar application of Zn and Si\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP) was comparable with soil application of P-Zn-Si in respect of Si content and uptake in grain and straw. Similarly, the Si content at 60 DAT from the experiment II was comparable in root dip treatment with multinutrient and foliar application of Si while both the treatments were combined with 50% RDP. The silicon uptake was higher in multi nutrient root dip with 50% RDP while in root Si uptake was comparable in root dip with foliar application of Si. Overall, applying Si through both SRD and foliar methods enhanced its concentration and uptake in rice straw and grain grown on the acidic soils of North East India. Soil available silicon from the experiment I showed the Si content in soil at different growth stages was higher in soil application of Si while in Experiment II at 60DAT soil available silicon was higher in MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MC root dip\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt harvest, the yield increase over control in Experiment I was SA of P-Zn-Si (130%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn-Si foliar\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (96.12%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD (30.28%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MCRD (19.01)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MNRD (2.82%). From this experiment showed that only multi-nutrient root dip method may not significantly increase the grain yield over control however, multi-nutrient root dip with microbial consortium increase grain yield up to 30.28% over control. The yield reduction observed with multi-nutrient root dip might be due to nutrient interactions that lower nutrient availability to plants, and because MNRD alone may not sufficiently support crop growth until maturity. However, the presence of microbial consortium may also increase the solubility of nutrients and improve grain yield. Bacteria like \u003cem\u003eBacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Arthobacter sp., Enterobacter sp., Rhizobium sp.\u003c/em\u003e can solubilise silicon from insoluble silicates [50\u0026ndash;53] and some of the Silicate solubilising bacteria (SSB) can also solubilise P, K and Zn\u003csup\u003e81\u003c/sup\u003e and improve the soil fertility and plant productivity including yield [50]. Similarly in our findings the no of panicles per hill, grain yield and straw yield were increased with application of microbial consortium\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;multi-nutrient root dip over control and that of only multi-nutrient root dip. Similar report of Grain yields was given by Sanusan et al. [54] that rice grains were maximized by a rate of 60 kg P ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e compare to 15 and 30kg P ha\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in acid soil (pH 5.05) Thailand. While in case of Experiment II, when the Si application under different mode of applications along with 50% of RDP increased the yield of rice and comparable with the 100% RDP. These results clearly showed that the application of 50%RDP along with Si irrespective of application (SRD/foliar) can compare and improve the yield against 100% RDF by saving 50% of P fertilizers in another side. Further the Efficiency of Si in Rice under acidic soil need to clarify under the long term experiment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis investigation introduced the optimal silicon dosage (utilizing Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO amended soil-water slurry) for seedling root dipping in three distinct rice varieties: Traditional, HYV and hybrid under two acidic soils: sandy clay loam and clay loam of transplanted rice. The critical doses of silicon are dependent on different rice and soil types. Overall, the critical nutrient limits of Si dose for SRD of rice was in the increasing order of Hybrid\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;HYV \u0026ge; traditional rice. Although the sole application of Si in seedling root dipping or its combination with a microbial consortium didn\u0026rsquo;t achieve yields comparable to the conventional method of its application, there is a promising approach. By combining the Si application through seedling root dipping or foliar application with 50% recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP), yields could be on par with those from the conventional methods of farmer practices (100% recommended dose of fertilizers) and additionally can save up to 50%. P fertilizers input. As a result, the recommended strategy involves applying silicon alongside 50% RDP. This not only enhances nutrient utilization efficiency but also sustains higher rice yields in the acidic soils of the North east region of India.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the paper.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests. \u003ch2\u003eFunding\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research was conducted without any specific funding or financial support from external sources.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eM.H.D.\u0026mdash;writing\u0026mdash;original draft preparation, writing\u0026mdash;review and editing, conduct experiments, analyzed the data, and prepared the figures and tables. D.T.\u0026mdash; conceptualized, and supervised the study; methodology, approved the final draft. Both the authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first author was supported by University Grants Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi under the Scheme Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for pursuing this Doctoral Research (Award Letter No. F1-17.1/2014-15/RGNF-2014-15-SC-MAN-77347/(SA-III/Website) Dtd. 25 February, 2015 in the College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya, India\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eEswaran H, Reich P, Beinroth F (1997) Global distribution of soils with acidity. Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH. In : Moniz, A. C. (ed.) 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DOI: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003e10.3389/fpls.2020.00028\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSanusan S, Polthanee A, Seripong S, Audebert A, Mouret JC (2009) Rates and timing of phosphorus fertilizer on growth and yield of direct-seeded rice in rain-fed conditions. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B \u0026ndash; Soil and Plant Science. 29: 491\u0026ndash;499.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Silicon, relative Si uptake, Hybrid rice, High yielding rice, Traditional rice","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eRice cultivation in problematic acid soils poses challenges for sustainable agriculture. To address this issue, seedling root-dip (SRD), rhizospheric nutrient management technique, in soil-water slurry amended with nutrient prior to crop transplantation has gained recognition. The study reported critical doses of silicon (Si) in SRD (Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eSi.9H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO amended soil-water slurry) for three rice types (Hybrid: Arize 6444, HYV: Ranjit and Traditional: Mendri) from two acid soils (Sandy clay loam, SCL, pH 4.98 and clay loam, CL, pH 4.52) and 10 h incubation, respectively using the critical curve approach by Cate and Nelson. In SCL, the order of critical Si doses (mg/kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) was Hybrid (275)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;HYV, Traditional (225), while in CL, it was Hybrid (325)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;HYV (225)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;Traditional (175). From the field experiment I, the Si content and uptake was significantly higher in soil application (SA) of P-Zn-Si at tillering stage, while in Experiment II, it was comparable among the Si applied treatments (either SRD/foliar application). At harvest, the yield increase over control in Experiment I was SA of P-Zn-Si (130%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;P\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Zn-Si foliar\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;50% RDP (96.12%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MN\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;MCRD (30.28%)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MCRD (19.01)\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;MNRD (2.82%) while in Experiment II, the yield in Si added treatments along with 50% RDP gives a comparable yield with conventional method (100% RDP) and additionally, it can also save the P fertilizer input up to 50%. Based on this result, the study recommends the application of Si (SRD/foliar application) along with 50% RDP may sustain higher rice yields in acid soils.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Silicon-enhanced seedling root-dipping for transplanted rice in acidic soil","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-16 19:03:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7532454/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bf650791-db1d-4a91-9804-d99aba67b048","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 16th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-27T14:29:37+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-16 19:03:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7532454","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7532454","identity":"rs-7532454","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}