Silicon in dry-season maize: maximizing yield or economic profitability

Abstract

Corn is a strategic crop in Ecuador, where the dry season limits its reproductive development and yield stability. Silicon, as a beneficial element, offers an alternative to improve crop performance under water restriction. The objective was to evaluate the agronomic effect of foliar and soil silicon application on reproductive components, yield, and cost-benefit ratio of corn in Mocache, Los Ríos. A completely randomized block design was used with three treatments and five replications: T1, control without silicon; T2, foliar application; and T3, soil application. Ear weight, length and diameter, number of rows, kernels per row, kernels per year, total kernel weight, 100-kernel weight, estimated yield, and economic indicators were evaluated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey's test (5%), and cost-benefit ratio. Ear length showed significant differences, with the highest average in T3 (16.79 cm), followed by T2 (15.86 cm) and T1 (14.84 cm). No significant differences were recorded for the other variables, although T3 presented the highest values for ear weight (223.90 g), kernels per ear (485.16), total kernel weight (180.98 g), 100-kernel weight (42.40 g), and yield (6900 kg ha⁻¹). Foliar application achieved the highest cost-benefit ratio (1.56). Soil application favored yield, while foliar application was more economically efficient. This result provides smallholder farmers with a decision-making tool: to maximize yield, opt for soil silicon; to prioritize profit per dollar invested, foliar silicon is more profitable, thereby contributing to the economic sustainability of family farming in dry season areas.