الفهرس 
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Abstract
Two field experiments were conducted in a clay soil using rice and maize as test crops during consecutive growing season of 2013 at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Technology & Development, Zagazig University, Egypt. The study aimed to illustrate the influence of foliar silicon spraying fertilization on: uptake of some plant nutrients and sodium, ratios of K/Na and Si/Na taken up, some nutrients use efficiencies, growth parameters and quantity and quality of yield of the two crops. The experiments were conducted in the form of randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments include five silicon levels, e.g. 0, 140, 280, 420, and 560 mg Si l-1that sprayed on rice and maize leaves at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing. Silicate spraying fertilization increased significantly the concentrations of N, P, K, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn in the different parts of rice and maize plants grown on a clay soil. Crude protein concentrations in the grains of rice and maize plants increased significantly with Si spraying. In contrast, Na+ uptake by both crops was decreased in order corresponding to increasing Si-spraying levels. Sodium concentration decreased by 22.9, 36.4, 52.5 and 57.9% for the 140, 280, 420 and 560 mg Si l-1 application rate treatments, respectively for rice grains as compared to the control treatment. Similar trend was observed for grains of maize plants sprayed with silicon. Moreover, the N, P and K use efficiencies have been improved in silicon sprayed plants. The investigated growth parameters of maize plants were enhanced with silicate fertilization indicating to the improvement roles of Si on physiological processes of maize plant. The grains yield of rice was increased by 11.27, 17.03, 13.02, 7.40% and 17.61, 22.26, 27.03, 7.75% for the treatments of 140, 280, 420 and 560 mg Si l-1. The average increases of maize crop were 5.5, 19.45, 10.09% and 40.76, 68.10, 58.34, 58.26% compared to the control treatment. The 1000-grains weights for rice plants were heavier due to Si addition. For maize, 100-grains weights were increased significantly with 280 and 420 mg Si l-1. It can be concluded that Si-fertilization has been beneficial roles in increasing sodicity tolerance of rice and maize crops. However, the subject is still needs to more studies conducted by Soil Scientists under wide range of soil properties, salinity types and levels, salinity-tolerance of crops species and environmental and climatic conditions.