Silicato de potássio e o seu efeito no rendimento de grãos e herbivoria de Diabrotica speciosa em feijoeiro

Abstract

Beans are the main source of protein for the Brazilian population, which is mainly produced by family farming. Diabrotica speciosa is a secondary the common bean pest that is difficult to control and can cause damage to the crop. Alternative control methods, such as the use of silicon, which can reduce the incidence of diseases and pests, has potential for use. This study aims to evaluate the damage caused by D. speciosa in the vegetative phase and the common bean yield components by silicon foliar application. An experiment was carried out in pots, to verifying the effects of different doses of potassium silicate on the yield components of the cultivar BRS Estilo, in a randomized block design, using four treatments with different doses of potassium silicate, 0 mL, 20 mL, 30 mL and 40 mL of the commercial product, in 1 L of solution, with application at the beginning of flowering, which occurs in R5. The plants were carried out until harvest, in R9, where the harvest and the evaluation process of the yield components were performed: the number of grains per plant (NGP), the number of pods per plant (NVP), the number of grains per pod (NGV), the mass of grains per plant (MGP), and the mass of one hundred grains (MCG). Additionally, a second experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with bean plants of the cultivar BRS Estilo at the V3 stage, in these plants the potassium silicate was applied (0 mL, 20 mL, 30 mL and 40 mL) and insects from the field for to release on treated plants. Within 48 hours after the release of the adult insects, the herbivory rate was evaluated using the ImageJ program. Data were examined with analysis of variance (F test). The application of potassium silicate did not harm common bean productivity when applied at flowering at the concentrations used. The defoliation rate in V3 showed no difference between different doses of potassium silicate applied 48 hours before contact with adults of D. speciosa.