Effect of silicon on the growth of cucumber plant in soil culture

Field experiments were conducted in alluvial soils for 3 years to evaluate the effect of silicate fertilizers on the growth of cucumber plants. Application of silicate fertilizer promoted the growth and yield of cucumber plants, and also reduced the damage caused by wilt disease. In these experiments, no deleterious effects associated with continuous cropping were observed. However, successive application of silicate fertilizer resulted in the increase of soil pH year after year and adversely affected the growth of cucumber plants. The application of large amounts of organic matter was effective in correcting the soil pH.