Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract and mineral nitrogen in Alibertia edulis seedlings

Abstract

Physiological and nutritional management is an important practice for obtaining high quality seedlings. The use of seaweed extract has emerged as an alternative to fertilizers and biostimulants, although information on this with respect to Alibertia edulis, a fruit-bearing species native to the Cerrado region, is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Ascophyllum nodosum L. seaweed extract (ANE), both with and without the addition of mineral nitrogen, on the growth, nitrogen nutrient efficiency indices, and quality of A. edulis seedlings. The seedlings received five doses of ANE (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL L-1 of water) via foliar application, with and without the addition of mineral N to the soil (50 mg kg-1 of urea). A randomized block design was used with the treatments arranged in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme. The plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll index, and number of leaves obtained were analyzed in split-plots over time. Foliar application of 15 and 20 mL L-1 of ANE contributed to greater growth and seedling quality, regardless of the addition of mineral nitrogen. Seedlings treated with mineral N alongside 13.98 mL L-1 of ANE showed the greatest leaf area. The highest N use efficiency, N uptake, and nutrient use occurred in seedlings that received A. nodosum extract.

Use of a Biostimulant Based on Seaweed Extract as a Sustainable Input to Enhance the Quality of Solanaceous Seedlings

“…Quality seedlings are characterized by a well-developed root system; that is, the greater the root biomass, the better the adaptation of the seedling when planted in the field [1,14,20]. With the application of the seaweed extract, there was an increase in both the biomass and the root length of those seedlings of tomato and eggplant that received the extract.…”

“…As observed in the correlation results, the increase in chlorophyll is correlated with an increase in some morphological parameters in the seedlings, highlighting that iron and magnesium are essential nutrients to produce chlorophyll, as well as nitrogen, which stimulates the vegetative growth of the seedlings and thus the production of leaves and shoots [26], At this stage, the seedlings are actively growing and require adequate nutrients for good development. Furthermore, adequate nutrition could help seedlings to better tolerate adverse conditions, such as water and thermal stress, contributing to healthier and more vigorous development of the crops [14,15,20].…”

“…In the nursery phase, the main management carried out is the supply of organic or chemical fertilizer, according to the requirements of the seedlings, to guarantee adequate nutrition combined with an adequate supply of water, avoiding both an excess and a lack thereof to ensure the healthy development of the seedlings. But the incorporation of seaweed extract has proven efficient in the development, nutrition, and quality of some seedlings [14,20]. At this stage, studies address foliar application and do not focus on studying the benefits of application through irrigation water.…”

Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract in Inga edulis seedlings under drought and the potential of phenotypic plasticity

“…We noticed that the responses of different species to ANE may vary, since at this same dose, ANE contributed positively to the increase of leaf area and root system in Alibertia edulis Rich. seedlings (Bernardes et al 2023).…”

“…In this sense, different groups of seaweed are used as biostimulants, among them, Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (Fucaceae) is the species that stands out the most for its potential use. Its composition contains phytohormones, proteins, and other compounds that can enhance plant performance through physiological and biochemical changes (Furlan et al 2020), besides favoring root expansion and initial development (Bernardes et al 2023).…”