Evaluating the comparative effects of acid modified rice husk and nano-silicon derived from rice husk on phosphorus use efficiency in wheat and lettuce plants with differing silicon contents

The use of nanotechnology in agriculture has become an area of great interest for soil scientists. Therefore, it is important and necessary to investigate the effects of nanoparticles on plant growth and its nutritional interactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acid modified rice husk (MRH) and nano-Silicon (Si) derived from rice husk on the growth and phosphorus uptake and phosphorus use efficiency in Si accumulator wheat and non-accumulator lettuce plants. MRH and nano-Si were applied at 200 mg kg−1 and P was applied 100 mg kg−1 for wheat and 200 mg kg−1 for lettuce plants. The highest dry weight was obtained with the application of nano Si + P treatment; while both MRH and nano-Si had no significant effect over the applied 100 mg P kg−1. Phosphorus fertilization significantly reduced Si concentrations in both plants of wheat and lettuce. However, the decrease in Si concentration was partly compensated by nano-Si treatment. When P was applied together with nano-Si, its uptake and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) significantly increased in wheat plants as compared to other treatments. Nano-Si derived from rice husk is a sustainable waste biomass and is an important alternative Si fertilizer source, which can be a valid strategy for the effective use of P fertilizers. The depletion of available Si in soil can be recovered by applying nano-Si as a fertilizer. The overall results obtained from the current research were promising.