Seaweed is a microorganism that grows in oceans, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water and is comprised of algae . Algae is a plantlike organism that doesn’t contain actual roots, flowers, leaves and stems, but does contain the green pigment known as chlorophyll. This allows the organisms to grow through the process of photosynthesis. Seaweed can include members of green, red or brown algae families, and there exist around 10,000 species within many marine habitats around the world.
Seaweed improve the water-holding characteristics of soil and help the formation of crumb structure. They do this because the alginic acid in the seaweed combines with metallic radicals in the soil to form a polymer with greatly increased molecular weight, of the type known as cross-linked. One might describe the process more simply, if less accurately, by saying that the salts formed by alginic acid with soil metals swell when wet and retain moisture tenaciously, so helping the soil to form a crumb structure.
The substances secreted by soil bacteria in the presence of seaweed include organic chemicals known as polyuronides. Polyuronides are chemically similar to the soil conditioner alginic acid, whose direct effect on the soil we have already noticed, and themselves have soil-stabilizing properties. This means that to the soil-conditioning agent which the soil derives from undecomposed seaweed — alginic acid — other conditioning agents are later added: the polyuronides, which result from the decomposition of seaweed.
Auxins in seaweed include indolyl-acetic acid, discovered in seaweed in 1933 for the first time. Two new auxins, as yet unidentified, but unlike any of the known indolyl-acetic acid types, were also discovered in 1958 in the Laminaria and Ascophyllum seaweeds used for processing into dried seaweed meal and liquid extract. These auxins have been found to encourage the growth of more cells — in which they differ from more familiar types of auxin which simply enlarge the cells without increasing their number. One of the auxins also stimulates growth in both stems and roots of plants, and in this differs from indolyl-acetic acid and its derivatives, which cause cells to elongate but not to divide. The balanced action of this seaweed auxin has not been found in any other auxin.
Seaweed contains all known trace elements but not all are available forms are exceptable to the plants. This problem can be overcome by chelating — that is, by combining the mineral atom with organic molecules. With liquid extract, this ability to chelate can be taken a stage further than happens naturally with seaweed and seaweed meal.
Plants treated with seaweed products develop a resistance to pests and diseases, not only to sap-seeking insects such as red spider mite and aphides, but also to scab, mildew and fungi. Such a possibility may seem novel, but it is in keeping with the results of research in related fields. The control of plant disease by compounds which reduce or nullify the effect of a pathogen after it has entered the plant is an accepted technique. It is in this way that streptomycin given as a foliar spray combats fireblight in apples and pears, and antimycin and malonic acid combat mosaic virus in tobacco.
Benefits of Seaweed when used in agriculture:
Seaweed fertilizers prove beneficial when doctored on the soil, delivering strength through vital nutrients. The seaweed fertilizers are best administered when sprayed. Thus, liquid seaweed fertilizers have their own set of benefits. Here are the advantages that liquid seaweed fertilizers would provide plants with:
- When the plant, from its neonatal stage, shifts to acquiring or developing buds, it is suggested that seaweed fertilizer be sprayed gently on those buds to promote a healthy growth.
- We all love flowers. Having the flowers cut freshly, from the garden sod and placing them in an ornate vase, makes the ambiance of the house extremely enchanting and serene. We also wish these flowers preserve the freshness for days together. However, we do find their shoulders drooping the very next day. Well, your lovely flowers could droop a day or two later if you spray seaweed fertilizer on them a day before you cut them and detach them from the plant.
- If seeds are treated with seaweed fertilizers before they are sowed, the seeds will germinate better, have an increased growth rate and their roots will possess strength.
- A ‘fighter’ plant could be acquired if the seaweed organic fertilizers are doctored on the plant. The plant will display a higher immunity against diseases and pests such as greenfly, whitefly and will have an ameliorated growth pattern.
- The seaweed will encourage vigor in the plant growth cycle as it consists more than 70 nutritional deporting minerals and enzymes.
- Seaweed consists of a sponge like porous component called the alginates, a type of algae. This component has a dominant role to play in the root system strengthening. The fertilizers when sprayed from the tip of the leaves to the roots of the plant, alginates holds the residue of the fertilizers near the roots giving them a comfortable access to moisture, without making them soggy and wet with mixture.
- Liquid seaweed fertilizers contain elements called hormones. They are Auxins, Cytokinins, Gibberellins and Betaines, required in minor proportions but they do contribute to the overall plant health. The auxins are a major hormonal component that regulates the speed at which the plant develops. Auxins, as hormones have a tendency to increase the growth or delay the growth rate of the plant. It also aids the flower buds to unfold at the right time.
- Cytokinins are another group of hormones in the organic seaweed fertilizers that judiciously distributes nutrients and minerals in the soil. The aging process in plants also known as the senescence, in plant taxonomy takes a backseat with the cytokinin content in the fertilizers.
- Liquid seaweed fertilizers has alginates that has a conditioning property when applied to plants. The soil has metal content with which the alginates react and form polymers that restore moisture in the soil when it gets wet.
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While planting roses may seem intimidating for the beginning gardener, in fact, the process is very easy. First of all, it is very important to choose an area of your garden that gets at least 4 to 5 hours of sun light. It is advisable not to crowd your rose plant with other trees and plants. Some rose plants such as climbers and shrubs don’t mind company but most rose plant like to mix with other roses or other non-invasive plants. If you’re replacing an older rose bush, it is important to remove about 22 cubic inch area of soil and replace it with fresh soil. A newly planted rose doesn’t like to grow in the same soil that an older rose bush has been in.
