Utilization of seaweed (Sargassum vulgare) extract to enhance growth, yield and nutritional quality of red radish plants

Abstract

Seaweed extracts as natural plant growth stimulant could be significantly used as a good agricultural practice in sustainable and organic crop production. Therefore, the current study was carried out at a private farm in Shibin El-Kom, Monufia Governorate, Egypt during winter growing seasons of 2017 and 2018. The effect of brown seaweed extract used as a pre-sowing seed soaking for 12 h at a rate of 3 ml/l, in addition as foliar spraying once at rates of 1, 2 or 3 ml/l after 20 days from sowing date on vegetative growth, yield and some nutritional values of leaves and roots of red radish plants of Celesta F1 hybrid was assessed. The experiment was set in a split plot design with three replicates. The obtained results sharply indicated that seaweed soaked seeds gave significantly the higher values of all measured characters than water soaked seeds. It was highly apparent that the foliar spraying treatment of the highest rate of seaweed extract (3 ml/l) gave significantly the best values of all studied characters compared to the other treatments. The interaction had significant effects on all studied parameters, except for leaves and roots dry weight, leaves Fe, and roots Fe and Zn contents in both seasons as well as for chlorophyll a in the first season and chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the second season. The most effective treatment was found to be seaweed soaked seeds before sowing and foliar sprayed seaweed extract at 3 ml/l once 20 days after sowing (DAS).