Influence of Calcium Silicate on Soil Fertility and Corn Morphology

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the development of corn (Zea mays) and soil fertility are influenced by the application of increasing doses of calcium silicate (CaSiO₃) in substitution to limestone. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions and the experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 3x2+1 factorial arrangement and four replications. The factors were: doses of CaSiO₃ (7.62 mg.dm^-3, 19.05 mg.dm^-3 and 38.09 mg.dm^-3) and liming (absence and presence). The soil of the control treatment did not receive limestone or CaSiO₃. At 21 days after emergence (DAE), it was found that the control treatment plants had significantly lower height and stem diameter. At 35 DAE was observed that using exclusively CaSiO₃ promoted 6% higher stem height values. At 63 DAE, no oscillations were observed in the biomass of aerial part and root between liming and CaSiO₃ doses (P>0.05). Using the limestone allied the silicate doses increased in higher concentration of Mg in the soil. The lowest dose of CaSiO₃ reduced the concentrations of Ca and Mg. Calcium silicate can be used as an alternative source to limestone for soil acidity correction.