Silicon Alleviates Salinity Damage of Poa Pratensis Plants at Seedling Stage.

The objective of the study was to investigate effects of silicon (Si) supply on turf growth and the distribution characteristics of Na⁺, K⁺ in Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) (Poa pratensis L.) at the seedling stage. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and consisted of one untreated control and five silicon treatments at five rates: 0, 0.24, 0.48, 0.72, and 0.96 g Kg^-1 soil. The study indicated that seed germination rate was significantly increased after 12 days under 0.48 g Kg^-1 Si treatment. Adding Si also significantly increased plant height, coverage, tillers per plant and leaf area. Leaf area was mainly due to the increase in the blade length. Leaf electrolyte leakage, concentration of Na⁺, and the ratio of Na⁺/K⁺ were significantly decreased with the supplement of Si. The content of K⁺ was higher in shoots than in roots, but the ratio of Na⁺/K⁺ in roots was higher than in shoots in all treatments. It is concluded that under salinity conditions silicon induced the transfer of K⁺ from roots to shoots but inhibited the absorption and transfer of Na⁺, resulting in better turf quality.