Calcium Silicate Application Enhances Oxidative Defense and Improves the Physiological and Growth Responses of Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum Group) Under Salinity Stress
Penulis/Author
Sidiq Permana Putra, S.Si., M.Sc. (1); Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. (2); Prof. Dr. Laurentius Hartanto Nugroho, M.Agr. (3); Prof. Dr. Diah Rachmawati, S.Si., M.Si. (4)
Tanggal/Date
2026
Kata Kunci/Keyword
Abstrak/Abstract
Indonesia’s shallot production still falls short of domestic demand, necessitating imports. Expanding
cultivation into marginal coastal areas such as Yogyakarta is promising but constrained by soil salinity.
Silicon can help by enhancing plant resistance to such abiotic stress. This study evaluated the
physiological and biochemical responses of shallot plants (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group) to the
application of calcium silicate (CaSiO3) under saline conditions. The experiment employed a completely
randomized design with 2 factors: CaSiO3 (0, 2, and 4 mM) and salinity (0, 2, 4, and 8 dS m⁻¹),
each with 5 replications. Physiological parameters, antioxidant activity, and yield traits were analyzed
using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) at p ≤ 0.05.
CaSiO3 significantly alleviated salt stress by enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and
membrane stability, improving photosynthetic efficiency, promoting growth, and yield components.
Under high salinity, 4 mM CaSiO3 reduced proline and H₂O₂ accumulation compared with untreated
plants. These findings indicate that applying 4 mM CaSiO3 can enhance shallot productivity and
resilience in saline coastal soils, supporting sustainable shallot self-sufficiency in Indonesia
