Effect of seaweed concentrate on hydroponically grown spring barley

Abstract

Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Triumph) was grown hydroponically over a 6-week period. Two treatments were incorporated either into the hydroponic solution or sprayed onto the plants at rates of 1 ml per 3 litres. The treatments applied were: (i) a seaweed concentrate prepared from Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (marketed as Maxicrop Triple), (ii) a 'Trace element' treatment incorporating the micro and macro nutrients added to the seaweed extract base to produce the formulated product Maxicrop Triple and (iii) a control treatment. Irrespective of the mode of application, plants treated with Maxicrop Triple grew faster than plants under either of the two other treatments. Elevated growth rates were also found for the 'Trace element' treated plants when incorporated into the hydroponic solution. At the final harvest, plants with Maxicrop Triple incorporated into the hydroponic solution showed increases from 56-63% over the control treatment for the growth characteristics measured. 'Trace element'-treated plants produced increases of between 25-45 %. When the treatments were sprayed the effect was less pronounced. Maxicrop Triple increased growth characters by 35-38% and the 'trace element' treatment gave increases in the range of 2-13%.

Responses of Creeping Bentgrass to Trinexapac-ethyl and Biostimulants under Summer Stress

“…TurfVigor-treated plots exhibited larger root surface area on 14 Aug. in 2007 and 10 Sept. The growth promoting effect of seaweedextract based biostimulants is thought to be due to various organic compounds present in the seaweed extract, and more specifically, due to the presence of relatively high levels of cytokinins (Steveni et al, 1992). Cytokinins are known for their functions of suppressing leaf senescence and promoting tillering (Gan and Amasino, 1995;.…”

The Use of Biostimulants for Enhancing Nutrient Uptake

“…This effect is believed to be a result of auxins (Crouch and van Staden, 1992;Khan et al, 2009) or cytokinins (Steveni et al, 1992) in the SE. A larger, more robust root system contributes to nutrient uptake (Khan et al, 2009).…”

“…Application of SE to either leaves or roots has been shown to lead to an increase in root mass or root-to-shoot ratio in various different crops, such as cucumber (Nelson and van Staden, 1984), barley (Steveni et al, 1992), rocket (Vernieri et al, 2006), tomatoes (Crouch and van Staden, 1992;Featonby-Smith and van Staden, 1983) and strawberries (Spinelli et al, 2010), and in a mung bean bioassay (Stirk and van Staden, 1997). This effect is believed to be a result of auxins (Crouch and van Staden, 1992;Khan et al, 2009) or cytokinins (Steveni et al, 1992) in the SE.…”

Comparative efficacy of brown, red and green seaweed extracts on low vigour sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) var. TN (SUF) 7 seeds

“…This enhanced growth effect is thought to be due to various organic compounds present in the seaweed extract. More specifically it is thought to be due to presence of phyto hormones mainly cytokinins in the seaweed extracts (Wrightman and Thimann, 1980;Steveni et al, 1992; Plate 1. Caulerpha racemosa (5 %) seaweed extract on low vigour sunflower Rayorath et al, 2008).…”