Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Growth enhancement of agricultural crops using seaweed liquid fertilizer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.1439
Submitted
16 August 2021
Published
26-01-2022
Versions

Abstract

Extensive use of chemical fertilizer is leading to infertility of soil and various hazardous effect on the ecosystem. Using biofertilizer reduces these harmful effects. Many are commercially available, being a poor match to chemical fertilizer they are not used on a large scale. Near coastal regions seaweeds are used as biofertilizers. Recent studies show seaweeds have multiple growth regulators, macro and micronutrients, polysaccharides which are necessary for plant growth. The study is carried out to check the bioactivity of Seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) as a growth stimulant. Sargassum cinereum, Ulva rigida and Ahnfeltia plicata found on the Indian coastline were used. SLFs were prepared from each of three species in varying concentration (0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, 0.08% and 0.1% v/v) with water and Urea as control. The test plant selected was Vigna radiata. Agronomic characters like germination rate, shoot length, flowering and fruiting period of test plants were studied. Phyto-hormones from SLF were detected by thin-layer chromatography. Elemental analysis of micronutrients in SLF was carried by ICP-AES. Along with Chlorophyll and Protein estimation of grown plants were checked. SLF shelf life was studied using chemical and biological preservatives. The effect of 0.06% concentration of all SLFs showed enhancement in growth and phytochemicals in plants. Plants treated with SLF showed flowering earlier than control plants. Thus, using SLF bio-fertilizer can become an alternative method to reduce the use of harmful chemical fertilizers.

References

  1. Annual Report 2019-20. Government of India Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Department of Fertilizers https://fert.nic.in/sites/default/files/2020-09/Annual-Report-2019-20.pdf
  2. Dittmar H, Drach M, Vosskamp R, Trenkel ME, Gutser R, Steffens G. Fertilizers, 2. types. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2000 Jun 15. https://doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a10_323
  3. Deepika P, Mubarak Ali D. Production and assessment of microalgal liquid fertilizer for the enhanced growth of four crop plants. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. 2020 Sep 1;28:101701 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2020.101701
  4. Newton L. Seaweed utilization. Nature. 1951 Jun;167(4260):1004- https://doi.org/10.1038/1671004a0
  5. Booth E. Some properties of seaweed manures. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Seaweed Symposium, Halifax, August 25–28, 1965, 1966 Jan 1 (pp. 349-357). Pergamon. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-011841-3.50055-0
  6. Thirumaran G, Arumugam M, Arumugam R, Anantharaman P. Effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer on growth and pigment concentration of Cyamopsis tetrogonolaba (L.) Taub. American-Eurasian Journal of Agronomy. 2009 Jan;2(2):50-56. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.606.4774&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  7. Zhang W, Chapman Dj, Phinney Bo, Spray Cr, Yamane H, Takahashi N. Identification of cytokinins in Sargassum muticum (Phaeophyta) and Porphyra perforata (Rhodophyta) 1. Journal of Phycology. 1991 Feb;27(1):87-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3646.1991.00087.x
  8. Turan M, Köse C. Seaweed extracts improve copper uptake of grapevine. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B-Soil & Plant Science. 2004 Nov 1;54(4):213-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710410030311
  9. Verkleij FN. Seaweed extracts in agriculture and horticulture: a review. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. 1992 Jan 1;8(4):309-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1992.9754608
  10. Crouch IJ, Van Staden J. Effect of seaweed concentrate on the establishment and yield of greenhouse tomato plants. Journal of Applied Phycology. 1992 Dec;4(4):291-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185785
  11. Dhargalkar VK, Pereira N. Seaweed: promising plant of the millennium. Science and Culture. 2005 Mar;71(3-4):60-66. http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/489
  12. Vijayakumar S, Durgadevi S, Arulmozhi P, Rajalakshmi S, Gopalakrishnan T, Parameswari N. Effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer on yield and quality of Capsicum annum L. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 2019 Oct 1;39(5):406-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.10.001
  13. Hassan SM, Ashour M, Sakai N, Zhang L, Hassanien HA, Gaber A, Ammar G. Impact of seaweed liquid extract biostimulant on growth, yield and chemical composition of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Agriculture. 2021 Apr;11(4):320. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040320
  14. Karthik T, Sarkar G, Babu S, Amalraj LD, Jayasri MA. Preparation and evaluation of liquid fertilizer from Turbinaria ornata and Ulva reticulata. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology. 2020 Sep 1;28:101712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2020.101712
  15. Bhosle NB, Untawale AG, Dhargalkar VK. Effect of seaweed extract on the growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/5577
  16. Parvin W, Othman R, Jaafar H, Rahman M, Mui W. Chromatographic detection of phytohormones from the bacterial strain UPMP3 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and UPMB3 of Burkholderia cepacia and their role in oil palm seedling growth. International Journal of Biotechnology Research. 2015;3(5):73-80. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286012705_ Chromatographic_detection_of_phytohormones_from_the_bacterial_strain_UPMP3_of_Pseudomonas_aeruginosa_and_UPMB3_of_Burkholderia_cepacia_and_their_role_in_oil_palm_seedling_growth
  17. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the 8 Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 1951;193, 266– 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9258(19)52451-6
  18. Arnon DI. Copper enzyme in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidasee in Beta 8 vulgaris. Plant Physiol. 1949;24:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.24.1.1
  19. Craigie JS. Seaweed extract stimuli in plant science and agriculture. Journal of Applied Phycology. 2011 Jun;23(3):371-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-010-9560-4
  20. Jayaraman J, Norrie J, Punja ZK. Commercial extract from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum reduces fungal diseases in greenhouse cucumber. Journal of Applied Phycology. 2011 Jun;23(3):353-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-010-9547-1
  21. Mohanty D, Adhikary SP, Chattopadhyay GN, Prakasam VR, Gopamma D, Ramoji G, Srinivas N, Mukherjee J, Ray S, Gantait VV, Bhattacharya T. 21. Seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) and its role in agriculture productivity.
  22. Devi SD, Paul JJ. Influence of seaweed liquid fertilizer of Gracilaria dura (Ag.) J. Ag. (red seaweed) on Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek. in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2014;3(4):968-78. http://www.wjpr.net/dashboard/abstract_id/995
  23. Crouch IJ, Van Staden J. Evidence for the presence of plant growth regulators in commercial seaweed products. Plant Growth Regulation. 1993 May;13(1):21-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00207588
  24. Vasfilov SP. The effect of photosynthesis parameters on leaf lifespan. Biology Bulletin Reviews. 2016 Jan;6(1):96-112. https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086416010084
  25. Sridhar S, Rengasamy R. Studies on the effect of seaweed liquid fertilizer on the flowering plant Tagetes erecta in field trial. Advances in Bioresearch. 2010;1(2):29-34. http://www.soeagra.com/abr/vol2/5.pdf
  26. Arthur GD, Stirk WA, Van Staden J, Scott P. Effect of a seaweed concentrate on the growth and yield of three varieties of Capsicum annuum. South African Journal of Botany. 2003 Jul 1;69(2):207-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30348-3
  27. Spinelli F, Fiori G, Noferini M, Sprocatti M, Costa G. A novel type of seaweed extract as a natural alternative to the use of iron chelates in strawberry production. Scientia Horticulturae. 2010 Jun 28;125(3):263-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2010.03.011
  28. Yokoya NS, Stirk WA, Van Staden J, Novák O, Ture?ková V, P?n?í k A, Strnad M. Endogenous cytokinins, auxins and abscisic acid in red algae from Brazil 1. Journal of Phycology. 2010 Dec;46(6):1198-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2010.00898.x
  29. Stirk WA, Arthur GD, Lourens AF, Novak O, Strnad M, Van Staden J. Changes in cytokinin and auxin concentrations in seaweed concentrates when stored at an elevated temperature. Journal of Applied Phycology. 2004 Feb;16(1):31-39. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JAPH.0000019057.45363.f5
  30. Michalak I, Marycz K, Basi?ska K, Chojnacka K. Using SEM-EDX and ICP-OES to investigate the elemental composition of green macroalga Vaucheria sessilis. The Scientific World Journal. 2014 Oct;2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/891928
  31. Mathur C, Rai S, Sase N, Krish S, Jayasri MA. Enteromorpha intestinalis derived seaweed liquid fertilizers as prospective biostimulant for Glycine max. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 2015 Dec;58(6):813-20. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132015060304
  32. Stirk WA, Novák O, Hradecká V, P?n?ík A, Rol?ík J, Strnad M, Van Staden J. Endogenous cytokinins, auxins and abscisic acid in Ulva fasciata (Chlorophyta) and Dictyota humifusa (Phaeophyta): towards understanding their biosynthesis and homoeostasis. European Journal of Phycology. 2009 May 1;44(2):231-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670260802573717

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.