Effect of Silicon on Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice

Rice is the staple food of about half of the world''s population. Hence 2004 A D is the International Year of Rice had a slogan as Rice is Life. Rice is considered as silicon accumulator and is prone to various stresses if the available soil silicon is low for absorption. The rice yields are declining due to the excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers. But the application of Si has the potential to raise the optimum N rate due to synergistic effect thus enhancing the productivity of lowland rice soils.