Comprehensive benefits. Cover your bases! Unlike competing products,
with just a few applications of Sea Spray you may provide multiple levels
of potential benefits,. These potential benefits have been identified during
seaweed research over several decades including:
Increased crop yield, produce/plant quality; increased resistance to disease,
insects, and stress; speeds germination and root growth; and sprayed just prior
to harvest - increased shelf life!
Granted, some of these benefits may never be used - but.....
If your soil is rich in chelated micronutrients, the chelating properties of
seaweed may never be of use to you. Do you know which micronutrients you're
missing or short of? Which are in soluble form? Which are not? Other potential
benefits may never be used- such as frost resistance, and drought, excess water,
and temperature resistance - but Sea Spray is an economical way to provide crop
insurance.
Can you afford not to? Check out the following research highlights!
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS OF SEAWEED RESEARCH
(from, Seaweed and Plant Growth, T.L. Senn, Ph.D.)
The following highlights do not, by any means, represent the entire
body of evidence supporting the use of seaweed in agriculture. Research
involving the use of seaweed in the agricultural industry has been conducted
for decades, and will no doubt continue in the future as scientists continue
to unravel the mysteries of seaweed.
General
Seaweed has been used by plant growers for
centuries, but the reason for beneficial results has only recently been attributed
to the naturally occurring growth regulators and micronutrients in the seaweed.
After many years of university and private research it has now been established
that ...brown seaweeds... contain many naturally occurring plant growth regulators,
namely cytokinins, gibberellins, and indoles. In addition, it contains essential
micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, boron, manganese, and
cobalt for healthy plant growth and development. Many seaweed products also
contain a chelating compound known as mannitol, which chelates micronutrients
into forms that are readily available for plant use. 5-2
...Seaweed extract assists the lettuce plants to more efficiently utilize
the major elements present in the soil. 7-5
The Good Book says that man can not live by bread alone, likewise plants
cannot live by NPK alone, both need balanced nutrition. Biological farming
helps the grower to have balanced nutrition available for his plants. Seaweed
supplies the plant with growth regulators and micronutrients not available
otherwise. 10-3
Seeds
Many researchers have reported speeding up seed germination by applications
of seaweed extract.
Seed treated with seaweed extracts respire much faster and will germinate sooner
than non-treated seed 4-3
The following seeds: zinnia, tobacco, peas, turnips, tomato, radish, cotton,
white pine, loblolly pine, Ligustrum, nandina, and American holly all demonstrated
increased respiratory activity and increased germination percentage when
treated with seaweed extracts at concentrations between 1 - 25 and 1 - 50
parts water. 4-4
Tests evaluating seaweed extract as a pre-germinating medium for onion seeds
demonstrated an increase in germination as well as consistent radicle length.
4-8
Soaking beet seed in seaweed extracts for 30 minutes prior to germination
increased the germination of beet seed by 25% over the control..........4-4
Seaweed extracts contain many gibberellins and cytokinins which have been
demonstrated to speed up germination. 10-5
At the end of one week the germination of the of the (seaweed extract) treated
seed was 84% as (beet) compared to 0% for the checks. 9-3
Root Growth
Young, working at the University in Melbourne, Australia, found that
regular use of seaweed extracts as foliar spray or as a soil feed encouraged
root development in the following crop plants: wheat, sunflowers, beans,
corn, peas and grasses. Other plant studies have reported similar results.
Cytokinins can have a direct bearing on admission of nutrient elements into
the roots of plants. .... It may be simply pointed out that concentrations
of cytokinins in the roots of plants accelerates the admission of nitrates,
phosphorus, potassium and calcium into the plant roots. 4-9
Many investigations have shown that the application of growth regulators
promotes the development of roots. These materials not only speed up the
healing of cut surfaces, but they also induce the development of a large
number of roots. 8-4
Young..... Found that regular use of seaweed extracts as a foliar spray
or as a soil feed encouraged root development in the following crop plants:
wheat, sunflowers, beans, corn, peas, and grasses. 10-6
Featonby-Smith reported that tomato root growth was significantly improved
whenever seaweed concentrate was applied........... 10-6
Derting found that dips of cutting in seaweed extract solution increased
the rooting percentage of Rhododendron maximum and Ilex crenata Rotundifolia.
10-6
Flowering
The ultimate goal in crop production
is maturity, whether it is for vegetative parts - Irish potato, sweet potato,
lettuce, alfalfa, or for flowers as in floricultural crops - roses, chrysanthemums,
carnations, or for seeds such as corn, wheat, beans, peas. Research has been conducted on a wide variety of plants
which have proven increased fruit set.
The stamin contains the male organs which shed pollen grains. These grains germinate
on the stigma. .....Pollen germination is stimulated by certain nutrient substances,
these include manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium, iron, boron and some
organic substances....the grower should anticipate plant maturity and spray
the plants prior to bloom with plant growth regulators to ensure a healthy,
viable plant at this time. 4-1
Seaweed extracts are known to delay senescence(aging) in plant organs. 10-22
Shelf Life
Research has shown that applications of seaweed
extracts to various fruits and vegetables prolongs their shelf life. Furthermore,
no preservatives at the salad bar are needed. 1-2
Reports have been made that seaweed applications have prolonged shelf life
of fruits and vegetables as much as 14 - 21 days and provided resistance
to softening and rotting. 3-6
Peaches were sprayed with seaweed before harvest and comparable lots of
untreated fruit were held in the laboratory and examined daily until 3 weeks
after their harvest. At the end of this period, 3 times as many untreated
fruit had deteriorated as treated fruit. 10-18
Micronutrients
...when seaweed extracts are used at
the recommended times and rates it will supply the amounts of iron, zinc,
copper, molybdenum, cobalt, boron, manganese, and magnesium that most crops
require.
Seaweeds contain more than 70 microelements. 3-4
Micronutrients serve as starters - catalysts that activate enzymes.
5-2
Reports that seaweed releases unavailable minerals from the soil have been
made. 3-5
The micronutrients in seaweed or in chelated form and seaweed containing
mannitol aids in additional chelation. 11-4
Insect and Disease Resistance
Seaweed applications produce the following
effects upon the incidence of Fusarium roseum tricinctum and nematode populations
in Kentucky Bluegrass turf: 98% reduction in the population of Paratylenchus
spp. pin nematodes; 48% reduction in F. Roseum. 3-14
Booth sums up the situation by saying:
Taking the situation as a whole, there is experimental evidence to show
that liquid seaweed products, trace elements, and growth retardance have
an adverse effect on insects. There are also practical experiences
with seaweed products and suggestions, from spraying contractors that a
mixture of liquified seaweed and insecticide is more efficacious than the
insecticide alone. 10-15
......Senn observed reduction in aphid and flea-beetle populations on plants
that had been sprayed with seaweed extracts. 10-14
.......seaweed extract applied as a foliar spray on apples appears to suppress
......mites high capacity for reproduction. 10-15
Increased resistance to fungal diseases by plants treated with seaweed extracts
has been widely reported by grower field observations. Many instances are
reported in the scientific literature. 10- 10
.....tomato roots and okra roots grown in seaweed extract treated plots
had fewer nematode infestations than comparable roots from the control plots.
10-16
Seaweed contains antibiotics including bromphenols, tanning, phloroblucinol,
and terpenoids. 10- 17
Researchers investigating the enhancement of herbicidal effect of seaweed
extracts, reported that "the results indicate that a combination
of seaweed extract with a herbicide can have beneficial effects in terms
of both weed kill and protection of the crop damage by the herbicide........"
10-32
Senn observed that seaweed concentrate applied to cantaloupe plants
reduced the severity of powdery mildew on leaves. 12-4
Stress Resistance
Numerous investigators ...... Have reported
for the effects of growth regulators on the ability of plant systems to
withstand changes in temperature. 10-11
(Seaweed concentrate) applied to grapevines ...... As a foliar spray at
bud burst and then with subsequent routine sprays .....results in: increase
fruit set particularly under adverse climatic conditions; more open bunches,
which allows more even development of the fruit and assists in the control
of Botrytis. 10-8
Stress periods occurring prior to and during formation of buds, root hairs,
tubers, flowers, and in fruit development and maturity, senescence, dormancy
of buds of seeds, and germinating of seeds are periods of great growth regulator
activity. 8-1
...A prime reason for using seaweed is to help overcome stress problems.
10-3
(A major) stress period occurs when the plant is changing from a vegetative
to a reproductive plant. Prior to this change or prior to blooming is an
ideal time to apply foliar applications of seaweed extract. 9-7
Seaweed extract treatment may be expected to increase plant growth, even
when the plant is under nutrient stress. It has frequently been reported
that plants treated with various plant growth regulators were less susceptible
to environmental stress conditions such as water (drought), temperature
(frost), and diseases. 9-6
...starter solutions and seaweed adjacent to roots in the soil are very
beneficial to the plant during (germination). 9-3
Scientists at the Newton Research Laboratories in Australia reported that
seaweed extracts increase the drought resistance of plants under stress....
Seaweed extracts evidently aid in changes in the metabolic pathways thereby
permitting the roots access of extremely low moisture levels which during
a drought are not normally available to plants. 9-6
Applications of seaweed extract during early drought periods aide plants
to live through this stress period. One of the first results of drought
- wilting of plants - is a decrease in growth promoters and an increase
in growth retardants. 9-5
Yield and Quality
Increases were obtained in root weight, root sugar content and in clarified
juice purity. 3-8
...significant increase in yield of potatoes. 3-8
Foliar applications of seaweed concentrate on swiss chard plants significantly
improved the growth irrespective of whether it was applied on its own as
a foliar spray or together with soil applications of a chemical fertilizer.
5-3
It was reported by Weidman and Stang that "the ability of cytokinin
to induce growth and development in latent buds and to stimulate cell division
offers exciting possibilities for strawberry production." 5-3
Seaweed extracts applied to lettuce plants produced an increase in the weight,
and mean heart diameter. In the case of cauliflower, seaweed extract application
led to a significant increase incurd diameter. Seaweed extract applied to
tomato plants improved the growth significantly. Irrespective of whether
it was applied as a foliar spray at regular intervals or whether the soil
in which the tomatoes were planted was flushed once with the diluted seaweed
concentrate. 5-4
Many trials and experiments have been conducted in the past, the results
of which have shown that seaweed extracts are responsible for increased
crop yields, quality and shelf life. Utilization methods and instrumentation
currently available to researchers, the reasons why marine-algae- seaweed
extracts are beneficial are being revealed. 5-4
Cut flower production (long stem roses) increase by 32%. 5-5
Cotton yield up to 29% due to increase boll number per unit per area. 5-5
Seaweed appeared to significantly affect the quality of tomatoes in terms
of better looking fruits with less deformation including increasing the
ripening and maturing rate. 5-5
There are numerous additional research reports that various seaweed extracts
are contributors to increased crop yields including: citrus, sweet potatoes,
apples, strawberries, potatoes, and clover. 5-5
When cytokinins are applied to leaves, these treated leaves remain green
longer due to a slower rate of degradative processes and syntheses are stimulated.
In other words, the treated leaves are rejuvenated and manufacture foods
for a longer period of time. 8-3
Use of seaweed extracts on apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums in several
Australian states at full bloom has consistently increased the effective
fruit set, and has improved the appearance of the fruit. 10-7
.....seaweed concentrate.......improve the growth of tomato plants significantly
10-16
Water sprays of a seaweed concentrate in weekly intervals.......applied
at the time of the fruiting of cucumbers distinctly increased the yields
of fruits by 41.8%. 12-3
"Preliminary prairie yield trials with seaweed extracts applied
at an early stage of crop development, appear to indicate that substantial
yield gains of cereal crops and canola can be obtained under extremely stressful
environmental conditions ( drought). These results are in agreement with
data obtained elsewhere and are in support of the observation that the application
of seaweed extracts in agriculture, may represent a considerable advancement
towards improving crop yields. The 1985 prairie trials which showed high
yield increases in cereal crops (in some cases up to 44%) to be solely due
to the application of seaweed extract, may serve as an indication of the
pivotal importance of this compound for the survival of Canadian agriculture."
Dr. Wayne Temple, University of British Columbia
......results of these field trials (seaweed spray) demonstrated substantial
increases (¸25%) in marketable bean yields. Dr. Wayne Temple,
University of British Columbia
Tree and Shrub Transplanting
The roots of trees or shrubs are dipped in seaweed solutions. After allowing
the excess solution to drain away the plants may be stored or planted. These
formulations are widely used in Europe with great success. 12-2
Hydro-Seeding
Seaweed components contain sodium alginates and alginic acid, both of which
improve water holding capacities. The seaweed water soluble materials contain
growth promoting substances as well as a large number of micronutrients which
correct soil nutrient deficiencies as well as increase the formation of humus.
12-12