Extract of Ascophyllum nodosum commercial application in South African agriculture MR. T E MASON MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 1
Contents 1. Essential Elements for Healthy plant Growth 2. Background & History of Seaweed 3. Harvest & Extraction Methods 4. Not all Seaweeds are the Same 5. More than just Cytokinins and Auxins 6. General Application of Seaweed 7. Benefits of Seaweed 8. Seaweed Crop Trials 9. Q & A MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 2
Essential Elements for Healthy plant growth MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 3
Background & History of Seaweed MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 4
About Seaweed Marine macro-algae aka seaweeds Plant-like organisms Live attached to rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas Three different groups Empirically distinguished since mid-nineteenth century on basis of thallus color: 1. brown algae (phylum Ochrophyta, class Phaeophyceae); 2. red algae (phylum Rhodophyta) and 3. green algae (phylum Chlorophyta, classes Bryopsidophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Dasycladophyceae, Prasinophyceae, and Ulvophyceae). Seaweed differs considerably in many ultrastructural and biochemical features including photosynthetic pigments, storage compounds, composition of cell walls, presence/absence of flagella, ultrastructure of mitosis, connections between adjacent cells, and the fine structure of the chloroplasts MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 5
Brown Seaweed in Agriculture Ascophyllum nodosum Fucus vesiculosus Ecklonia maxima These are the most common brown algae's used in Agriculture worldwide, where Aschphyllum and Ecklonia are more common in RSA. MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 6
About Brown Seaweed Liquid extracts of marine brown algae are marketed for use in agriculture and horticulture as early as 1949 but evidence exists for use since Roman times as a soil enhancer There are about 1800 species of brown algae, most are marine, each different Brown algae are larger and most species are found in colder waters The brown algae commonly known as Norwegian kelp, grows within the intertidal zone, along the North Atlantic coastline. MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 7
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Bay of Fundy Billions of gallons of water flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy on a single tide.greater than the combined flow of all the rivers on Earth. MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 9
Seaweed harvest & extraction methods MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 10
Harvesting Yes it makes a difference: by-catch, storm tossed & beach dumped= lower & brokendown essential elements content, hence its already decomposing Award winning rake harvester MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 11
Extraction Yes it makes a difference All seaweed extracts are liable to ferment on standing and preservation with formaldehyde (1 :1000) is usual. There is some difference of opinion on the most desirable ph of the finished product but there is little evidence to support any particular figure ; I prefer a slightly alkaline product, ph 7.2-7.4, simply because most physiological fluids fall into this range. B. Booth. (1969) Proc. Intl. Seaweed Symp, 6 Pags. 655-662 Different extraction methods can be used for seaweed extracts preparation i.e. water extraction under high pressure, alcohol extraction, alkaline extraction, microwaveassisted extraction (MAE) and supercritical CO2 extraction MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 12
Extraction Only freshly harvested plants are used: no storm tossed seaweed A non-pressurized, low heat, alkaline extraction is used to rupture cell walls and release the contents Two-stage filtration will remove any remaining insoluble cellular materials producing a highly water soluble seaweed extract A Non-Pressurization Extraction Process with Fresh Seaweed Seaweed Variety Growing Environment Harvest Process Extraction Process Additives Final Product MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 13
Not all seaweeds are the Same! MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 14
Content of Brown Seaweed Should not be used for their N, P and K values MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 15
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Differences are Important Type, location and growing conditions Synthetic or natural Extraction process The Freshness of the seaweed is vital to its ability to maintain valuable compounds when extracted The extraction process determines the availability of active, beneficial compounds in the final product Seaweed extraction recipe must be closely controlled to ensure consistency MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 17
Figure 1. Rooting response of seaweed concentrate samples tested in the mung bean bioassay. A) Pale brown liquid B) Green liquid C) Dark brown liquid 60 60 60 50 50 50 No. of Roots 40 30 20 No. of Roots 40 30 20 No of Roots 40 30 20 10 10 10 0 0 1:99 1:49 1:19 1:9 1:4 1:1 0 0 1:99 1:49 1:19 1:9 1:4 1:1 0 0 1:99 1:49 1:19 1:9 1:4 1:1 Dilution Dilution Dilution D) Dark brown liquid E) Brown Granules F) IBA Standards No. of Roots 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1:99 1:49 1:19 1:9 1:4 1:1 No. of Roots 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1:99 1:49 1:19 1:9 1:4 1:1 No. of Roots 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3 Dilution Dilution Concentration (M) MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 18
More than just Cytokinins & Auxins MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 19
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Little spoken about is the other product ingredients and links to efficacy/ mode of action. Alginic Acid main structural carbohydrate of Ascophyllum, this polymer will be liberated from the cell wall of the algae into water soluble salt forms during the extraction process. These acids and oligosaccharides are strong mineral chelators and can help with nutrient availability/delivery. Oligosaccharides A large percentage of the organic matter fraction of Ascophyllum extracts is comprised of various poly- and oligosaccharides. elicitors and stimulators of plant defense mechanisms and the effects Laminarin Laminarin is well documented in plant immune-stimulation purposes. MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 21
Fucose-containing polysaccharides (FCP s) Many effects such as antiviral, antioxidant and protective capabilities. Amino acids Protein content of Ascophyllum is relatively low, what protein is present will be extracted and broken down to constituent amino acids and peptides during processing. Serve as building blocks in plant development and microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Micronutrients Including iron, zinc, boron, and manganese are present in the Ascophyllum Although low, any amounts can be helpful May me more bioavailable Macronutrients Such as K, Ca, Mg, & S is very low but any amount can be helpful. MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 22
Auxins Indole acetic acid Cytokinins Trans-zeatin Dihydro-zeatin Dihydro-zeatin riboside Trans-zeatin riboside Isopentyladenosine Isopentyladenoside Ascissic acid Betains Amino valeric acid Amino butyric acid Glycine Betaine Laminine Gibberellins GA GA 3 4 Thus as can be seen from the above seaweed extracts can be considered a soup which contains many compounds which act individually &/or in combination to help crops attain their maximum potential MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 23
Auxin Activity Bioassay measured activity of auxins and other rooting factors Extract-treated plants had root weights 2-4 times heavier and root # s & 2-3 times greater than H2O control Extract-treated roots have more than an auxin effect on root development It is confirmed that the response to roots is not identical to an auxin effect alone. 24 MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION
General Application of Seaweed MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 25
General Recommendations Application Timings and Targets: Applications to foliage Seed Transplant Two applications 4 weeks apart When needed mixed with fungicides, Insecticides, nutrients and other inputs Post-harvest (Soak) (Treat / Soak) Applications to Roots MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 26
Benefits of Seaweed MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 27
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General benefits Increase root growth and plant establishment Increase desirable yield and your profits Improve plant health Increase nutrient levels Enhance natural plant resistance to stresses MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 29
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Seaweed Crop Trials MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 33
YIELD (TONS / HECTARE) 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 WHEAT RESEARCH DATA 11.2% YIELD INCREASE 1,100 1,297 TRIAL 1 18.3% YIELD INCREASE 1,440 1,710 TRIAL 2 OTHER PRODUCT FEATURES Range of products to meet the needs of individual wheat farmers Easy to apply: ground, pivot or aircraft Products are flowable concentrates, easy to handle and store Increase in root mass Reducing lodging Increase in protein content Mixes with most agro-chemicals 69% YIELD INCREASE 1,200 2,100 TRAIL 3 21% YIELD INCREASE 2,537 3,170 TRIAL 4 Trails done for 4 years in 4 countries 52 Trials in 50 locations Increase in yield from 11,2% - 69% Return on investment of 4 to 20 times input cost MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 34
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Thank you! MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 36
Questions & Answers MODERN TRENDS IN SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 37