The effects of feeding by silica fertilizer on the reduction of stress caused by salinity in fenugreek plants

The study of the climatic condition of Iran shows that arid and semi-arid areas are often scattered in the central areas of Iran, and salinity in these areas is one of the limiting factors for crop production. Fenugreek is a genus of Fabaceae family and one of the important products of semi-arid regions. This medicinal plant is used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases such as diabetes. Fenugreek seeds and its leaves are rich in minerals, protein and carbohydrates. The expansion of fenugreek cultivation in the world has caused this plant to face abiotic environmental stresses during the growing season. Silica plays a role in reducing the amount of sweating and preventing the side paths of sweating. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effect of silica fertilizer in increasing salinity tolerance of fenugreek plants.

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of silica fertilizer on some morphological and physiological characteristics of edible and medicinal fenugreek plant in the fall of 2022 in Behbahan city in the form of pots in the form of a completely randomized design with three replications in the open air. The treatments included salt stress at three levels (0, 75 and 150 mM sodium chloride) and silica fertilizer at two levels (0 and 3 g/l) and a total of 18 pots. Fenugreek seeds are obtained from a reputable seed store (Rahimi vegetable seed store in Behbahan city). Fenugreek seeds were planted in small plastic pots with a height of 7 cm and a diameter of 8 cm filled with garden soil, leaf soil and perlite (ratio 1:1:1) so that finally there were five plants in each pot.

The results showed that in the fenugreek plant, the maximum root length (6.95 cm) and the dry weight of the aerial parts (0.046 g) in the treatment without salt stress (control) and without the use of silica fertilizer and the lowest root length (2.63 cm) ) and the dry weight of aerial organs (0.03 g) was observed in the treatment of 150 mM salinity stress and without the use of silica fertilizer. Also, the decrease in chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm ratio) in response to salinity stress was lower than the decrease observed in salinity stress without using silica fertilizer. In the salinity stress of 150 mM and the use of silica fertilizer 3 g/liter, the amount of chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm ratio) was 0.09 more than in the treatment of salinity stress of 150 mM and no silica fertilizer. The highest value of greenness index (SPAD) was obtained in the condition without salinity stress (11.60) and the lowest value was obtained in the salinity stress of 150 mM (2.30), which was significant at the five percent level. Stress causes disturbances in the path of electron transfer and destruction of tissues related to photosynthesis, and in this way, it prevents the optimal energy consumption of the plant. In this study, silica treatment reduced the negative effects of severe salinity on root length, wet and dry weight of shoot and chlorophyll fluorescence, and reduced the harmful effects of salinity on fenugreek plants.

In this experiment, it was observed that the application of silica fertilizer in severe salinity stress significantly reduced the amount of chlorophyll fluorescence in comparison with its non-application. The present study showed that adding silicone fertilizers to saline soils reduces the negative effects of salinity stress in fenugreek plants.