• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.819-825
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• 2016

Monitoring of soil fertility and crop productivity in long-term application of silicate fertilizers is necessary to use fertilizers efficiently. This study was conducted to investigate effects of continuous application of silicate fertilizer for rice cultivation from 1969 to 2014. The treatments were no silicate fertilizer treatments (N, NC, NPK, and NPKC) and silicate fertilizer treatments (N+S, NC+S, NPK+S, and NPKC+S). The 46-yr input of $2\;ton\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ of silicate fertilizer increased pH 0.6 ~ 1.1 and exchangeable Ca $2.0{\sim}2.4cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ in silicate fertilizer treatments (N+S, NC+S, NPK+S, and NPKC+S) compared with no silicate fertilizer treatments (N, NC, NPK, and NPKC) because silicate fertilizer included Ca component. Also, available silicate concentrations of silicate fertilizer treatments (N+S, NC+S, NPK+S, and NPKC+S) increased $169mg\;kg^{-1}$ compared to no silicate fertilizer treatments. In Period II ('90~'14), the mean annual Si field balance varied from 62 to $175kg\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ in silicate fertilizer treatments, indicating continuous accumulation of soil Si. Silicon uptake and grain yield of rice had greater differences between N treatment and N+S treatment than other treatments. This showed that the application of silicate fertilizer had greater effect in nutrient-poor soils than in proper nutrient soils. Thus the application of silicate fertilizer led to improvement the fertility of soil and increasement of rice production for the lack of soil nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1118-1123
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• 2011

The changes of available silicate (Avail. $SiO_2$) contents in paddy soils (sandy loam) were assessed from data of the 41 years fertilization plots in which the continuous rice cropping experiment started in 1954 at the National Academy of Agricultural Science. The treatments were no fertilization (O), inorganic fertilization (NPK), inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost (NPK+C), inorganic fertilizer plus silicate fertilizer as a soil amendment (NPK+S), inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost and silicate fertilizer (NPK+CS) and inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost, silicate fertilizer and lime (NPK+CSL). Available silicate contents in NPK+S, NPK+CS and NPK in surface soil reached at the highest content ($255{\sim}330mg\;kg^{-1}$) after 41 years and then levelled off. Available silicate contents in subsurface soil (25~30 cm) were higher in NPK+C and NPK+S treatments than those in other treatments. Continuous application of silicate fertilizer affected significantly on the levels of available silicate in surface and subsurface soils. Silicate uptake of top rice was more increased by 98% in NPK+CS and NPK+CSL over NPK. Grain yield also increased by 37~47% in NPK+CS and NPK+CSL as compared to NPK. The combined applications of inorganic fertilizers with silicate as a soil amendment are recommended as the best fertilization practice for fertilizer use efficiency, enhancement of soil fertility status in the continuous rice cropping system in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1016-1022
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• 2011

Application of silicate fertilizers is typically practiced with several year's interval to amend soil quality and improve rice productivity at the paddy field in Korea. Most of silicate fertilizers applied in Korea is slag-originated silicate fertilizer. Some water soluble silicate fertilizers are manufactured and commercially available. The objective of this study was to assess changes of soil chemical properties in paddy field by applying slag-originated silicate fertilizer and water soluble silicate fertilizer. Field experiment was conducted on a silt loam paddy soil, where four levels of each silicate fertilizer were applied in soil at the rate of 0, 1, 2, 4 times of the recommended levels. Application of slag-originated silicate fertilizer increased soil pH, while no significant pH increase occurred with the treatment of water soluble silicate fertilizers. Soil pH increased 0.4~0.5 with the 1 time of recommended level of slag-originated silicate fertilizer. Available $SiO_2$ contents also significantly increased with the treatment of slag-originated silicate fertilizer at 15 and 35 days after treatment, while decreased after 60 days after treatment possibly due to rice uptake. Exchangeable Ca, Mg and available phosphate contents in soil increased with application of slag-originated silicate fertilizer, while a little increases for them were shown with the application of soluble silicate fertilizer. $SiO_2$/N ratios in rice straw for 1 time of recommended level of slag-originated silicate fertilizer was 11.5, while that of control was 8.4, which was much lower value. Throughout this study, soil application of slag-originated silicate fertilizer enhanced soil chemical properties, while water soluble silicate fertilizer application in soil needs further study resulting in a little effects on soil property.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.407-416
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• 2003

Although the requirement and optimum soil level of Si for oriental melon are still not well understood, silicate fertilizer is commonly applied to the oriental melon in plastic film houses where soil silicate level is relatively high. In this research the effects of silicate fertilizer on growth, fruit yield and fruit quality of oriental melon, and soil properties were investigated in plastic film house where the soil available silicate was $212mg\;SiO_2\;kg^{-1}$. Silicate fertilizer was applied in the rates of 100, 200, and $300kg\;10a^{-1}$. The application of silicate fertilizer could not increase the early growth of oriental melon, and also the fruit yield and quality were not different among the treatments. Available Si and P contents in soils and also Si and P contents in leaf of oriental melon of the different treatments were not significantly different. In the relationship between total Si in oriental melon leaf and soil silicate extracted by 1 N sodium acetate, optimum soil available silicate level for oriental melon was found to be around $100mg\;SiO_2\;kg^{-1}$. These results indicate that the additional silicate fertilization in soils of available silicate higher than $100mg\;SiO_2\;kg^{-1}$ is unnecessary, and such application of silicate can not have any beneficial effect on the growth and fruit yield of oriental melon.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.280-289
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• 2002

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of annual application of slowle cooled slag silicate fertilizer on rice yield and soil chemical properties. Field experiment was done on the condition of fertilization of silicate fertilizer 1,500 and $2,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ to the clay loam paddy field during 26 years from 1975 to 2000. The results obtained were as follows; Rice yield of NPK+silicate fertilizer $1,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ and $2,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ were increased by 15%, 8% respectively incomparion with NPK control plot in 2000($26^{th}$ year). Changes in average rice yield for 5 years interval were continually showed increase in the treat of silicate fertilizer $1,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ compared to NPK and NPK+silicate fertilizer $2,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ treated plot. The amounts of N, $K_2O$, CaO and MgO in the treat of silicate fertilizer $1,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ were much more than those of silicate fertilizer 2,500kg treated plot, and the treat of silicate fertilizer $1,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ showed higher in nutrients availability and fertilizers use efficiency than other treated plots at harvesting stage. Amount of N, $P_2O_5$, $K_2O$ and MgO in unhulled rice grain, those of CaO, MgO and $K_2O$ in rice straw and those of $K_2O$ and $SiO_2$ in rice root were positively recognized significant relationships with grain yield. According to soil analysis after experiment in 2000, the silicate fertilizer $2,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ annually applied plot were increased especially in soil organic matter, CEC and available phosphate content in comparison with NPK+silicate fertilizer $2,500kg\;ha^{-1}$ applied plot.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 1980

The effect of particle size of silicate fertilizer, crushed slag from the steel industry, on the behavior of silicate in soil was investigated through laboratory experiments. The silicate fertilizer was sieved to obtain three fractions of particles, coarser than 10 mesh 20-35 mesh, and finer than 100 mesh. Silicate concentration of the extract obtained by shaking 20 mg of particles, coarser than 10 mesh, 20-35 mesh, and finer than 100 mesh, in 50 ml of distilled water for 4 hours was 0.3, 1.0, and 3.2 ppm respectively. As shaking the mixture of the silicate fertilizer and soil proceeded, silicate concentration of the extract increased, and this increase after 4 hour shaking was attributed mainly to dissolution of soil silicate. When the mixture of soil and the silicate fertilizer was incubated under submerged condition, silicate concentration of the solution decreased for the first 2-4 weeks, thereafter increased with incubation time. During this incubation period, silicate concentration of the solution changed inversely with pH of the solution. After 6-10 weeks, however, both silicate concentration and pH of the solution increased with incubation time. Silicate concentration of the effluent from the 14.5 cm soil column of which top 4.5 cm was packed with the mixture of 30 g of soil and 30 mg of the silicate fertilizer reached maximum at 0.94 pore volumes for the particles of 20-35 mesh and 1.03 pore volumes for the particles finer than 100 mesh, whereas the effluent concentration reached maximum at 0.88 pore volumes for the soil column without the silicate fertilizer treatment. Soil analysis made after water percolation revealed that 1.5 pore volumes of water could leach down large amount of the water soluble silicate but not the sodium acetate extractable silicate, from top 3-6 cm soil layer.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 1982

The residual effect of silicate fertilizer (crushed slag from the steel industry) on rice yield was evaluated through 4-year field experiments. Applications of the silicate fertilizer at rate of 2500 kg/ha to Gangseo sandy loam soil (Fluvaquentic Eutrochrepts) very low in available silica increased the grain yield by 7 to 12% depending on the mesh size of the fertilizer in the first year. The yield in the fourth year showed no residual effect. Seventeen to eighteen months after the application, available silica content of the soil (1N-sodium acetate extractable) decreased down to 130 ppm which is a, base level for the silicate fertilizer application. Decreasing tendency of available silica concentration of the soil with time differed according to the mesh size of the silicate fertilizer applied. In 36 to 48 months after the application, the extractable silica content of the soil converged to 90 to 100 ppm.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of silicate mixed with nitrogen fertilizer on improving the growth and reducing nitrogen input of zoysiagrass. Plant height, fresh and dry weight of shoots, roots, and stolons, the number of shoots and total of stolons length were increased with highest in silicate mixed with nitrogen 24 kg/10a than nitrogen 24 kg/10a, and it showed no significance in silicate mixed with nitrogen 18 kg/10a. Nitrogen use efficiency in mixed silicate fertilizer was increased by 25-30% than single nitrogen fertilization. Moreover, the contents of available $SiO_2$, and organic matters of silicate fertilization on soil was higher than not silicate fertilization on soil. The silicate enhanced the growth and density of zoysiagrass, while it was a crucial factor to affect the chemical property of the soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.354-363
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• 2007

In order to investigate the optimum rate and interval of silicate fertilizer application for rice cultivation, Chucheong byeo variety, one of commonly cultivated rice cultivar in Korea was planted on two different wetland rice soils located on Hwaseong-si from 2002 to 2005; Jisan series(a member of the fine loamy, mixed, mesic family of Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts), known as "Productive Paddy Soil", without any conspicuous limiting factor, and Seokcheon series (a member of the coarse loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Fluvaquentic Endoaquetps), known as "Sandy Paddy Soil", sandiness being major limiting factor. There were three rate treatments of silicate fertilizer application; the amount of silicate fertilizers needed to adjust the available soil silicate contents to 130, 200, and $270mg\;kg^{-1}$ was applied, in the first year only. There was an additional plot; applying the amount of silicate fertilizer needed to adjust soil available silicate to 130 ppm every year, which would serve as the base for the evaluation of residual effects of silicate fertilizers in the plots where different rates of silicate fertilizer were applied. From the yield data in first year, it was found that optimum available silica in the soil are $154mg\;kg^{-1$ and $160mg\;kg^{-1}$, in Jisan and Seogcheon soils, respectably. The duration of residual effects of silicate fertilizer was different depending upon the amount of applied silicate fertilizers and the soils. The higher the application rate, the residual effect lasted longer, and the residual effect was lasted longer in Jisan(clay loam) soil than in Seogcheon(sandy loam) soil. During four years, sum of the rate of contribution to increase available soil silica of applied silicate fertilizer in different soils ranged 18.6% and 24.1% in Jisan soil and Seogcheon soil, respectively. This may suggest that much portion of applied silicate would be either lost from the soil or remain in the soil as insoluble form. This deserves further study.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.456-463
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of granular type of silicate fertilizer on watermelon growth, yield, and characteristics of soil in the greenhouse. Four different levels of silicate fertilizer, 0(control), 600, 1,200, $1,800kg\;ha^{-1}$ were applied for experiment. The silicate fertilizer was applied as a basal fertilization before transplanting watermelon. Compost and basal fertilizers were applied based on the standard fertilizer recommendation rate with soil testing. All of the recommended $P_2O_5$ and 50% of N and $K_2O$ were applied as a basal fertilization. The N and $K_2O$ as additional fertilization was split-applied twice by fertigation method. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) cultivar was 'Sam-Bok-KKuol and main stem was from rootstock (bottle gourd: Lagenaria leucantha Standl.) 'Bul-Ro-Jang-Sang'. The watermelon was transplanted on April, 15. Soil chemical properties, such as soil pH, EC, available phosphate and exchangeable K, Mg, and available $SiO_2$ levels increased compared to the control, while EC was similar and the concentrations of soil organic matter decreased. Physical properties of soils, such as soil bulk density and porosity were not different among treatments. The growth characteristics of watermelon, such as stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of watermelon at harvest were thicker and heavier for silicate treatment than the control, while number of node was shorter than the control. Merchantable watermelon increased by 3-5% compared to the control and sugar content was 0.4 to $0.7^{\circ}Brix$ higher than the control. These results suggest that silicate fertilizer application in the greenhouse can improve some chemical properties of soils and watermelon stem diameter and dry weight, which are contributed to watermelon quality and marketable watermelon production.