Effect of silixol granules on silicon uptake, stem borer and leaf folder incidence in rice

Field experiment was conducted at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India during Kharif 2014 to study the effect of Silixol Granules on silicon uptake, stem borer and leaf folder incidence in rice. The treatments comprised of 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers (T1), T1 + Calcium silicate @ 2 t ha -1 (T2), T1 + 120 kg Si ha -1 through Fly Ash (T3), T1 + Silixol Granules @12.5 kg ha -1 (T4), T1 + Silixol Granules @ 25.0 kg ha -1 (T5) and T1 + Silixol Granules @ 37.5 kg ha -1 (T6). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Among the different treatment imposed, 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers + Silixol Granules @ 37.5 kg ha -1 recorded higher values for silicon uptake by rice crop at tillering and flowering stages. The same treatment significantly decreased the per cent incidence of rice stem borer and leaf folder at tillering and flowering stages. Thus, it can be concluded that soil application of Silixol Granules @ 37.5 kg ha -1 along with 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers reduced the infestation of stem borer and leaf folder in rice by enhancing silicon content in plants.