The Effect of Foliar-Applied Silicon Compounds on Reducing Seed Shattering and Improve Seed and Oil Yield of Canola (Brassica napus L.)

The seeds shattering is one of the main factors reducing yield in canola. To reduce seed shattering and improve canola yield by silicon-containing and spodnam compound, an experiment was conducted in the Karimeh Zaer Institute as a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2020-2021. The experimental treatments consisted of water-spraying, spodnam compound, calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and nano-silica. The results showed that seed total weight of canola shattered was decreased significantly by spraying spodnam and calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate, and nano-silica. Moreover, canola plants treated with silicon compounds had increased content of chlorophyll a and carotenoid. Additionally, calcium silicate and potassium silicate treatments increased the silica content of silique by 15.3% and 18.7% compared to the control, respectively. Foliar spray with calcium silicate and potassium silicate also increased the seed yield by 9.3% and 20.6% compared with the control, respectively. The highest oil yield was obtained under foliar treatment with potassium silicate (1183.30 kg/ha) and calcium silicate (1144.79 kg/ha). Overall, foliar treatment of potassium and calcium silicate had positive effects on the studied traits. Therefore, it is recommended to use these compounds to improve canola yield.