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Performance of autumn maize crop as influenced by seaweed saps
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A field experiment was carried out at Crop Research Centre of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar out to evaluate the performance of two sea weed liquid fertilizers extracted from ‘Kappaphycus” and “Gracilaria” on Autumn Maize. The experiment was carried out on Autumn Maize because of yield gaps and largest cropped area so that the benefits of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizers, if any be disseminated among larger maize growing farming community. The experiment was carried out in RBD with 10 treatments. The treatments consisted of RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer for Maize Crop) N: P: K: 120: 75: 50 and Zn @ 5 Kg/ha along with 3 sprays of K sap, G sap and water as control. Spraying of saps was done at knee high, tasselling and silking stage. Maize cultivar 900 M gold was used. The crop was sown in February and harvested in May. Both K and G saps were effective in increasing grain yield of maize over control. K Sap Outperformed G sap at all the concentrations as the yields were found to be statistically superior. Highest grain yield was observed at 10% K sap (72.0 q/ha) which means an increase of 35.3% over control. In case of G Sap highest grain yield was observed at 15% concentration (67.3 q/ha) i.e. an increase of 26.5% over control. The mixture of 7.5% K sap and 7.5 % G sap (T9) was statistically superior as compared to spray of 10% G sap alone. Application of 10% K sap was best with respect to enhancement in crop yield. Uptake of N, P & S were more in grain as compared to straw of maize, while uptake of K, Ca Mg, Cu, Fe &Mn followed the reverse trend in grain & straw. In both cases uptake, due to application of saps was significantly superior over control and increased progressively with increasing concentration of saps from 2.5 to 15%. Highest total uptake of N, P, K, Ca, S, Cu, Mn and B was observed at 10% K-Sap level while for Mg, Zn & Fe highest uptake was observed at 15% K-Sap. In general, total uptake of nutrient was more with K-Sap as compared to G-Sap at almost all the concentration levels of the sap. However, nutrient concentration in grain and straw was found more at 15% K sap. Hence, if better yield is desired 10 % K sap would be best but for quality produce 15 % K sap could be used.
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... Combine application of SAPs with cow manure increased N-uptake, CEC, and SMC in corn fields stated by (Khadem et al., 2010). (Singh et al., 2018) suggested that 15% of SAPs concentration increased 26.5% yield of corn over the control. A similar study (Krasnopeeva et al., 2022) revealed that 100 kg of SAPs ha -1 was the most appropriate rate, increasing corn yield and dry matter yield. ...
Background: The increasing global population poses a significant challenge, resulting in a scarcity of food resources on a global scale. Addressing this issue necessitates advancements in agricultural practices, particularly in drought-prone areas. Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are crucial in improving crop production's water and nutrient utilization efficiency, making them highly relevant for drought-affected areas. Thus, this research aimed to assess the impact of SAPs, combined with manure and fertilizers, on the growth of maize (Zea mays) cv. Ts-1004. Material and Methods: The experiment consisted of nine treatment groups, namely, T1 (Nitrogen, N), T2 (Potassium, K), T3 (Phosphorus, P), T4 (NPK), T5 (Compost), T6 (SAPs), T7 (NPK + Compost), T8 (NPK + SAPs), and T9 (Control). These treatments were evaluated under two water level conditions: well-watered (W1) and water-stressed (W2) in a greenhouse environment. The plants were subjected to water stress by maintaining soil moisture content at 20 – 25% during the knee height and flowering stages for 8 days. Results: The results revealed that significantly (P < 0.05) higher values in ear girth, ear length, number of seeds per ear, and ear weight were observed in the T8 treatment compared to other treatments. Additionally, the T8 treatment exhibited the highest yield under well-watered and water-stressed conditions (3,274.4 kg/ha). The application of SAPs improved soil moisture content, leading to enhanced water use efficiency (24.53 kg/ha/mm) and harvest index. Moreover, SAPs positively influenced the concentration percentage of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, with T8 showing the highest values under water stress conditions. Conclusion: These findings highlighted the effectiveness of SAPs in enhancing crop growth and productivity, particularly under water stress conditions. This approach will help farmers reduce water stress on crops.
The experiment was conducted on a farmer's field near Bhavnagar (Gujarat, India) during the Rabi season of 2008–2009 to study the effect of foliar applications of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria edulis sap on growth and yield response of wheat var. ‘GW 496’. Three foliar sprays of both saps were applied at the rate of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% (v/v) along with water as a control at different stages of the crop. It was found that yield of grain was increased significantly by 19.74% and 13.16% for plants receiving 7.5% and 5.0% concentrations of K. alvarezii and G. edulis sap, respectively, over control. The increase in yield was attributed to increases in the number of spike, spike weight, spike length and 100 seed weight. Foliar applications of K. alvarezii sap at 7.5% increased nutrient contents in grains from 7.91% (K) – 31.82% (S) whereas G. edulis sap increased nutrient content 5.72% (N) – 37.54% (Mg).
Drought continues to be a major limiting factor for creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. A.) quality and persistence on golf course fairways, greens, and tees. Little breeding specifically aimed at improving bentgrass drought resistance has been completed. However, a number of reports indicate that treatment with natural products such as seaweed extracts and humic acids improve cool-season grass drought resistance possibly by hormonal up-regulation of plant defense systems against oxidative stress. This study was conducted to determine the response of exogenous natural product treatment of three creeping bentgrass cultivars subjected to drought. 'Penn G-2', 'L-93', and 'Penncross' creeping bentgrass were treated with seaweed extract (SWE) at 0.5 kg ha -1, humic acid (HA; 80% a.i.) at 1.5 kg ha-1, alone or in combination, and maintained in a greenhouse at approximately field capacity (-0.01 MPa) or allowed to dry until near the permanent wilting point (-1.5 MPa). Unashed samples of SWE and HA contained 66 μg g-1 and 57 μg g-1 zeatin riboside (ZR), respectively, while ashed samples contained no detectable cytokinins as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There were no significant differences between cultivars in response to drought, except for ZR concentration, which was higher in Penn G-2 than in L-93 or Penncross foliage. Turf quality and photochemical efficiency began to decline 14 d into the dry-down for the control and at 21 d in the natural product-treated bentgrass. The combination of HA + SWE enhanced root mass (21-68%), and foliar α-tocopherol (110%) and ZR (38%) contents. This is the first known report indicating that these natural products contain cytokinins and that their application resulted in increased endogenous cytokinin levels, possibly leading to improved creeping bentgrass drought resistance.
The seaweed extract Goemar GA 14 (2.5 g L-1), when applied as a foliar spray to two varieties of Spinacia oleracea L., 4 and 6 weeks after sowing, increased the total fresh matter production of the leaves by 12 to 15%, after 8 weeks of culture. However the O2 evolution rate of chloroplasts from plants treated with seaweed extract did not exhibit a significant increase compared to the control plants.
Heat stress is the primary factor limiting summer performance of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in many temperate to subtropical regions. Seaweed extract (SWE)-based cytokinins have been used to improve stress tolerance, but their specific effects on creeping bentgrass under supraoptimal temperatures are lacking. This study was designed to determine whether SWE-based cytokinins affect creeping bentgrass heat tolerance, and to compare effects of SWE-based cytokinins to those of a trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR)-standard. Concentrations of t-ZR in two SWE sources (referred to as Oce and Aca) were determined. Treatments were applied twice to creeping bentgrass at an equivalent t-ZR concentration of 10 μM. One week after the initial treatment, heat stress was imposed (35/25°C [day/night]) for 42 d. The Oce SWE, Aca SWE, and t-ZR treatments resulted in leaf t-ZR concentrations that were 39, 32, and 28% higher, respectively, relative to the control at 14 d of heat stress. The Oce SWE, Aca SWE, and t-ZR treatments also increased superoxide dismutase activity and alleviated the decline of turfgrass quality, photochemical efficiency, and root viability. Ashed SWE provided results similar to the water control. Beneficial effects of SWE on heat tolerance appear to be associated with their organic, especially cytokinin, components and not the mineral (ashed) fraction. Proper application of SWE-based cytokinins may be an effective approach to improve summer performance of creeping bentgrass.
A pot experiment was conducted in rabi season 2004-05 to study the effect of Kappaphycus alvarezii extract applied as a foliar spray at 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.0% on wheat. Compared to control the yield of grain increased by 80.44% when, the plants were sprayed with 1.0% K. alvarezii extract. The nutritional quality of grain such as carbohydrate, protein and minerals also improved under the influence of treatment.
Seaweed concentrate was applied to wheat plants either as a root drench or as a foliar spray. All seaweed treatments resulted in a marked increase in culm diameter. This increase was due mainly to an increase in cell size, especially of the vascular bundles. Seaweed concentrate also affected grain yield favourably. Similar observations resulting from other growth regulator usage and the significance of the findings are discussed.