Ortho-Silicic Acid Mitigates Salt Stress in Forage Sorghum: Foliar Boosts Growth, Physiology & Quality Under

Soil salinity is one of the biggest threats to crop productivity worldwide, and forage crops like sorghum are no exception. This book investigates a practical, low-cost solution: foliar application of ortho-silicic acid (OSA) to help sorghum plants withstand salt stress. Working with two genotypes, CSV33MF and SSG 59-3, the study exposes plants to a range of salinity levels and examines how OSA treatment influences their physiological response, from water status and photosynthetic activity to chlorophyll content and ion balance. It also looks closely at how salinity and OSA affect forage quality traits such as protein, fiber, and digestibility, factors that matter directly to farmers and livestock producers. The findings reveal that a foliar spray of 2.5 ppm OSA meaningfully improves plant performance under saline conditions, offering a promising, field-ready strategy for growing resilient forage crops in salt-affected soils. Written for researchers, agronomists, and students of plant science, this book bridges rigorous experimental data with real-world agricultural relevance, contributing to the broader effort to secure crop productivity in an increasingly saline world.