Effect of foliar silicic acid on growth, nutrient uptake and blast disease resistance of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.)

Finger millet or ragi is the primary food source for millions of people in tropical dry land regions of Africa and Asia. Two field experiments were conducted to study the genotypic variation for silicon accumulation and the effect of foliar applied silicic acid on growth, nutrient uptake and blast disease resistance of ragi. Study showed a significant varietal variation for Si accumulation with an average Si content of 1.67 % in the above ground part.