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.
Highlights
Agriculture is the backbone of India; various schemes, modifications, hybrid varieties etc. are developed to enhance the yield of crops
Overuse of chemical fertilizers has increased the crop yield and production and there is excessive chemical leaching into the soil, causing bioaccumulation and other harmful effects
Preparation of Seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) is discussed which opens up start-up opportunities for farmers and fishermen, reducing the use of chemical fertilizer
Summary
Agriculture is the backbone of India; various schemes, modifications, hybrid varieties etc. are developed to enhance the yield of crops. The use of organic fertilizers like manures, biostimulants is increasing. Cyanobacteria like Nostoc and Anabaena are already naturally enhancing agriculture crops, there are emerging studies in the use of microalgae fertilizers but the time taken to grow algae is more [3]. Seaweed provides nutrition as it contains macro and micronutrients, amino acids, vitamins, phytohormones, polysaccharides etc [6] These help in increase in growth and development, tolerate environmental stress [7], enhance nutrient uptake from soil [8] and increase nutrients in the plants itself [9]. The present work follows the use of indigenous seaweeds i.e. the ones found in our country, like Sargassum cinereum, Ulva rigida and Ahnfeltia plicata as biofertilizers and biostimulants for growth enhancement crops. Preparation of SLF is discussed which opens up start-up opportunities for farmers and fishermen, reducing the use of chemical fertilizer
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