Studies on Pharmacognostical and Biochemical Constituents of Selected Seaweeds and Their Effects as Liquid Fertilizers on Growth of Crop Plants
Ashwini S, Suresh Babu TV, Varun Kumar SM, Kshama K, Naveen Kumar KB and Manjula Shantaram*
Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Mangalore University, India
Submission: September 12, 2017; Published: October 13, 2017
*Corresponding author: Manjula Shantaram, Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Mangalore University, India.
How to cite this article: Ashwini S, Suresh BTV, Varun K SM, Kshama K, Naveen K KB, Manjula S. Studies on Pharmacognostical and Biochemical Constituents of Selected Seaweeds and Their Effects as Liquid Fertilizers on Growth of Crop Plants. Glob J Pharmaceu Sci. 2017; 3(4): 555618. DOI: 10.19080/GJPPS.2018.03.555618.
Abstract
The effect of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF) of three seaweeds was tested at different concentrations (10%, 20%, 40%, and 60%)on growth parameters of Allium cepa (onion), Solanum melongena (brinjal), Eleusinecoracana (ragi), Oryza sativa (paddy), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato).Seaweed extracts at different concentration were used to find out their efficiency on germination of seeds and plant growth inhibiting (toxic) concentration. This study revealed that the 40% level of SLF enhances the growth and yield than other concentrations. Thus in the present study, the effect of seaweed extract on plant germination is being discussed and the future perspective of its usage as a bio-fertilizer can be encouraged.
Keywords: Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer- Growth- yield-Gracilariacorticata-Chaetomorpha antenna -Ulva fasciata.
Introduction
The usage of seaweeds in agricultural land as a manure is very antique and common practice in several countries. Use of seaweeds as a fertilizer in the production of crop has an extended practice in coastal areas throughout the world. The seaweeds are known to possess several trace elements and growth hormones which are necessary for growth of plants. Seaweed manure was reported to comprise of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
Marine algal seaweed species are often regarded as an under-represented bio resource. The benefits of seaweeds as sources of organic matter and fertilizer nutrients have led to their use as soil conditioners for centuries [1,2]. Numerous studies have revealed a wide range of beneficial effects of seaweed extract applications on plants, such as early seed germination and establishment, improved performance and yield, elevated resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and enhanced post-harvest shelf-life of perishable products [3,4]. Bokil et al. [5] has reported seaweed extracts are bioactive at low concentrations (diluted as 1:1000 or more). Liquid extracts obtained from seaweeds are successfully used as foliar sprays for several crops [6]. The growth enhancing potential of seaweeds might be attributed to the presence of macro and micronutrients [7].
Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF) is found to be highly potential compared to chemical fertilizers by current researches. Thus seaweed extracts as liquid fertilizers have come in market is established in recent years [8]. The favorable effect of seaweed extract application is a result of several components which works synergistically at various concentrations, even though the mode of action still remains indefinite. In this study, effect of three common seaweeds viz. Gracilariacorticata, Chaetomorpha antenna and Ulva fasciataas liquid fertilizer was established on crop plants.
Materials and methods
Collection of seaweeds
In the present study, effect of three common seaweeds viz. Gracilariacorticata, Chaetomorpha antenna and Ulva fasciata were handpicked in between intertidal rocks of Surathkal beach, Karnataka, India (13 00`34.1” N lat. & 74 47`16.1” E long). The collected seaweed was botanically identified by Dr. C.R.K Reddy, CSIR- Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India.
Preparation of seaweed liquid extract
Fresh seaweeds were washed thoroughly to remove all the epiphytes and sand particles with tap water. They were shade-dried for five to nine days. The dried seaweeds were powdered using kitchen type blender; further they were used for the preparation of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF). The coarse powder was mixed with distilled water in the ratio of 1:20 (w/v). Boiled for 60 minutes and filtered through four fold of white cloth. The filtrate was collected and stored. The filtrate thus obtained is considered as 100% [9]. Four different concentrations of solutions such as 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% were prepared and used for the study.
Selection of crop plants
The crop plants, selected for the present study were onion, brinjal, ragi, paddy and tomato. The seeds were collected from the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka. The seeds with uniform size, color and weight were chosen for the experimental purpose and thoroughly washed with distilled water 3-5 times.
Effect of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer on plant germination
Seeds of Allium cepa (onion), Solanum melongena (brinjal), Eleusinecoracana (ragi),Oryza sativa (paddy), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) were treated with 3 different seaweed liquid fertilizers as described elsewhere [10]. Petri plates were sterilized to avoid spoilage of seeds, and then filter paper was placed to provide support and hold moisture for the germination of seeds. Each plate was placed with three seeds of A.cepa, S. lycopersicum respectively. Four different concentrations (10, 20, 40 and 60) of seaweed liquid fertilizer were poured on each plate with respect to the seaweed and seeds. The seeds were placed over filter paper and then, these were incubated at room temperature. The plates were kept separately with 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light. Also field study was carried out using A.cepa, S. melongena, E. coracana, O. sativa, S. lycopersicum. The seeds were monitored for germination after three days and the growth of the seedlings were observed after a period of fourteen days from the day of treatment. After the observation of germination and growth of seedlings in the plate and the seedlings in field which were treated with different concentration of liquid fertilizers, various parameters such as number of leaves, height of the shoot, length of the root, number of lateral roots were measured. A plate with water instead of liquid fertilizer was kept as control.
Pharmacognostical studies
The powder of G. corticata, C. antenna and U. fasciata were mixed with different chemical substances for their identification purposes.
Sl. no Treatment
1. Seaweed powder + 50% H2SO4
2. Seaweed powder + concentrated H2SO4
3. Seaweed powder + 50% HCl
4. Seaweed powder + concentrated HCl
5. Seaweed powder + 50% HNO3
6. Seaweed powder + concentrated HNO3
7. Seaweed powder +10% NaOH
8. Seaweed powder +5% FeCl2
9. Seaweed powder + 5% KOH
10. Seaweed powder + Ethanol
11. Seaweed powder +Acetic acid
12. Seaweed powder + 1N HCl
13. Seaweed powder + 1N NaOH +Ethanol
CHN analysis
The CHN Analyzer (Leco- TruSpec® CHN, USA) was used to determine total carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content by combusting the dried samples and using a calibrated using EDTA as a reference standard.
Results and Discussion
Growth of shoot was influenced by all the concentrations of G. corticata, C. antenna and U. fasciata extracts and a maximum value was recorded for 20%, 40% and 60% respectively. Among the field study of three seaweed liquid fertilizers, G. corticata liquid fertilizer yielded better results compared to other two seaweeds. Temple has reported [11] increase in the harvest of bean by seaweed foliar applications, whose average yield was increased by 25%. Csizinszky has reported [12] staked tomato yields increase by 99%. The presence of macro and micronutrients and also some growth promoting substances might lead to enhancing the growth potential of seaweed extracts [13,14]. Whap ham et al. [15] has reported to increase in chlorophyll of cucumber seedlings and tomato plants with application of seaweed (Ascophyllumnodosum).
Pharmacognostical studies
In normal visible light, different colors were observed in the reaction of different chemical substances with fine powder of G. corticata, C. antenna and U. fasciata the results of which are tabulated (Table 1). The carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content of three seaweeds were determined, out of which C. antenna showed highest carbon value, while hydrogen content was found to be highest in G. corticata and U. fasciata was found to have highest nitrogen content (Table 2).
In this study 60% of G. corticata,60% of C. antennina and 60% of U. fasciata as liquid fertilizer have shown better yield for onion (Table 3).In this study 20% of G. corticata, 20% of C. antennina and 60% of U. fasciata as liquid fertilizer have shown better yield for tomato (Table 4). In this study 60% of G. corticata, 40% of C. antenna and20% of U. fasciata as liquid fertilizer have shown better yield for brinjal (Table 5).In this study, 20% of G. corticata, 40% of C. antennina and60% of U. fasciata as liquid fertilizer have shown better yield for paddy (Table 6).In this study, 20% of G. corticata, 40% of C. antennina and60% of U. fasciata as liquid fertilizer have shown better yield for ragi (Table 7).
Conclusion
This study also confirms that use of seaweed extracts as liquid fertilizer was found to be highly effective in promoting growth; it is a wise eco friendly technique to enhance crop production. In this study, concentration of G. corticata as liquid fertilizer showed best results. Seaweed extract which gave better results at lower concentration shall be utilized at very high dilution rate in agricultural field that can enhance the rate of germination of seeds. It will not affect native useful microorganisms present in soil and also seaweed as fertilizer is economical.
Authors would like to thank Mr. Yathish from ChikkaAluvara village, Kodagu district, Karnataka, India for providing his plot for the field study.
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