Role of Silicon in Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Management for Improving Growth, Yield and Quality of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.): A Review

Abstract

Black gram [Vigna mungo (L.)] is an important pulse crop widely cultivated for its high protein content, nitrogen-fixing ability and contribution to soil fertility improvement. However, the productivity of black gram is often constrained by nutrient imbalance, poor soil fertility and increasing abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity. Silicon (Si), although not recognized as an essential plant nutrient, has gained considerable attention because of its beneficial role in enhancing plant growth, nutrient-use efficiency, stress tolerance and crop productivity. Therefore, integrated use of silicon with organic and inorganic nutrient sources has emerged as a promising strategy for improving growth, yield, grain quality and sustainability in pulse-based cropping systems. This review work was carried out at the faculty of agricultural sciences, GLA University and the School of Agriculture, Uttaranchal University. A systematic cum integrative review of research work conducted in different parts of the world, particularly in India, was comprehended. The literature search was conducted during 2024-2025. About 180 review and research papers were screened from various databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, ResearchGate, ARCC journals, Web of Science and other scientific repositories, out of which relevant published papers were critically analyzed and used for preparation of this review manuscript. The reviewed studies demonstrated that integrated application of silicon with organic and inorganic nutrient sources significantly improved growth parameters, yield attributes, nutrient uptake, grain quality and post-harvest soil health in black gram and related crops. Silicon application enhanced plant height, root and shoot growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, nutrient absorption and stress tolerance under adverse environmental conditions. Improved yield performance was associated with better water-use efficiency, balanced nutrient availability and enhanced physiological activities. Silicon-mediated improvement in grain quality, including higher protein content and improved mineral composition, was also reported. Furthermore, integrated nutrient management practices involving silicon contributed to improved soil microbial activity, nutrient cycling, organic carbon accumulation and long-term soil fertility. The findings indicate that silicon-based integrated nutrient management can serve as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach for improving productivity, quality and resilience of black gram production systems.