Effects of Different Application Rates of Silicon Fertilizer on Growth, Yield, and Fiber Quality Traits of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) is used as cash crops and widely grows in Xinjiang but has some major stress such as drought and salinization which severely effect cotton yield and its quality. Silicon nutrients are not considered as essential nutrients, but it effectively alleviates environmental stress and how silicon effects against stress are still unknown. Our study aims to investigate effect of silicon different concentrations on stresses and cotton production in adverse conditions of Xinjiang, revealing the mechanism and appropriate concentration rate by foliar methods to provide proper guidance for the enhancement of cotton in Xinjiang region. A complete randomize block design was used with four different silicon treatments rate with the available silicon content by 0%, 10%, 30% and 50%, called as control (CK, no silicon application), low silicon application rate treatment (L, 0.25g Si L ^− 1 ), medium silicon application (M, 0.50g Si L ^− 1 ) and high silicon application rate treatment (H, 1.00g Si L ^− 1 ). During both years of cotton growing agronomic traits, dry matter accumulation and distribution, leaf physiological indexes (MDA, Pro, POD, SOD, CAT, GR), yield components and fiber quality were systematically measured. Silicon application rate effects on cotton growth and yield were explored through comprehensive analysis of multiple indexes. Silicon foliar application significantly enhances cotton agronomic traits which are responsible for cotton vigor, growth and yield. Silicon nutrients have beneficial effects on proline content, antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde) and glutathione content reductase in cotton leaves ( P  < 0.05). By improving cotton agronomic traits and leaves physiological indexes silicon especially medium and high concentration significantly cotton biomass. Silicon foliar application enhances the cotton yield and its components but there is no significant difference between silicon concentrations with ( P  < 0.05). Silicon fertilizer enhances the agronomic traits, biomass, proline and other antioxidants activities which directly affect cotton yield against adverse conditions in Xinjiang. According to our study two years results silicon high (H, 1.00g Si L ^− 1 ) can be used as recommended dosage for cotton physiology and yield enhancement.