Silício como atenuante do estresse salino sobre o crescimento e composição químico-bromatológica da Brachiaria brizantha cv. mg5

Abstract

Salt stress is a present threat to agricultural production, especially where irrigation makes it necessary for forage crops for animal feed. To minimize this problem, an alternative that has been identified as promising is the use of silicon (Si) via fertilizer, due to the addition of this mineral increase tolerance to salinity of poaceae. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effect of silicon fertilization on the growth and chemical- bromatological composition of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 in salt stress conditions, using four concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 20, 40 and 60 mmol L-1, equivalent to the electrical conductivity 0, 3.9, 7.5 and 10.9 dS m-1, respectively), and silicon concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mmol L-1) in the nutrient solution, and three cutting times. The experiment was completely randomized in a factorial 4 x 5 x 3 with four replications, where the experimental plot was represented by a pot containing a plant. In the biggest changes in chemical-bromatological composition were due to the sodium chloride concentration in the solution three cuts made. In the three studied cuts the high concentrations of sodium chloride accelerated senescence, reduced growth and nutritive value of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5. The concentration of 4 mmol L-1 Si minimized the deleterious effects of sodium chloride in the regrowth of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 in the last two cuts, improving growth. However, the applications of silicon levels were not sufficient to mitigate the deleterious effects of sodium chloride in nutritional value and dry matter production of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 in the three cuts.