The silicon fertilization can increase productivity by increasing resistance to lodgaing, to water stress and dehydration after harvest. The objective of this study was to evaluate productivity and postharvest quality of Heliconia Golden Torch under doses and sources of silicon. The experiment was conducted in randomized design in factorial 3 x 4 with four replications, utilizing three sources and four doses of silicon. The following variables were evaluated: number of tillers, the beginning of the flowering, length of flower stem, diameter of flower stem, length of bract, number of flower stem, silicon content in leaves and burning of bracts on the 5th, 10th and 15th day postharvest. The results showed that the application of sodium silicate was better to influence the growth of Heliconia Golden Torch. The higher doses of sodium silicate which influenced the length of flower stem, diameter of flower stem, length of bract and the number of the flower stem were 576, 400 and 560 mg dm-3. The burning of bract was less when sodium silicate was applied at dose of 550 mg dm-3. Content of silicon in the leaf increased with increasing doses of application of calcium silicate.
silicon fertilization; tropical flowers; production components
