An assessment of the effects of silicate application on rice by a simulation method.

Abstract The importance of leaf angle in photosynthesis of a crop canopy is well recognized (1,2,3,4,5). Erect leaves are considered to be desirable for a high yielding rice variety (6,7). However, leaf erectness can be changed by the nitrogen and silicon nutrition of the plant. Application of nitrogen tends to cause leaves to the more droopy; application of silicon tends to maintain erect leaves (8).