{"id":818,"date":"2025-03-03T12:20:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T12:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/?p=818"},"modified":"2025-03-26T10:29:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T10:29:58","slug":"%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d8%a7-%d9%87%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/blog\/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d8%a7-%d9%87%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9\/","title":{"rendered":"Seaweed: What is Seaweed Fertilizer, Its Benefits for Agriculture, and How is It Used?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your Comprehensive Guide to Seaweed Fertilizer: Types, Benefits, and Agricultural Uses<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Table of Contents<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Global Importance of Seaweed and Algae<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits of Seaweed for Plants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of Seaweed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed Used in Agriculture<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unique Chemical Compounds in Brown Seaweed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits of Seaweed Fertilizer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Use Seaweed Fertilizer<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>The Global Importance of Seaweed and Algae<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed, including macroalgae and microalgae, contributes to approximately 30% of global aquatic production, offering social and economic benefits to coastal communities. Seaweed plays a crucial role in enhancing human and environmental health. The diverse contributions of seaweed and microalgae to human health, environmental benefits, and ecosystem services have increasingly drawn attention to the untapped potential of seaweed and microalgae cultivation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Benefits of Seaweed Fertilizer for Plants<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the 1950s, seaweed extracts have been used as biostimulants. These extracts enhance plant growth, increase crop productivity, improve product quality, and boost plants&#8217; resistance to abiotic stress and diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed extracts stimulate physiological responses in plants, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhancing plant growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing tolerance to various abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, frost).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing the severity of fungal, viral, and insect infections.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving flowering and crop yield.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhancing the quality and nutritional content of edible products.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extending product shelf life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Types of Seaweed<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed, commonly known as macroalgae, is classified into three main groups based on color:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brown Algae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Phylum: Ochrophyta, Class: Phaeophyceae)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Red Algae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Phylum: Rhodophyta)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Green Algae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Phylum: Chlorophyta; Classes: Bryopsidophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Dasycladophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Ulvophyceae)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed varies significantly in biochemical composition, including pigment content, storage compounds, cell wall composition, presence or absence of flagella, cell division methods, intercellular communication structures, and chloroplast structure.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Seaweed Used in Agriculture<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most commonly used seaweed species in agriculture include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Green algae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Azolla, Spirulina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brown algae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ascophyllum, Ecklonia, Ectocarpus, Fucus<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are about 1,800 species of brown algae, most of which are marine. Brown algae are generally larger in size and predominantly found in cold waters. They contain varying amounts of chemical components that play a vital role in plant physiology, microbial soil communities, and antimicrobial properties, making brown seaweed the most commonly used in seaweed-based fertilizers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Unique Chemical Compounds in Brown Seaweed<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brown seaweed, such as <\/span><b>Ascophyllum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, contains key compounds including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Macronutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Micronutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Boron, Iron, Manganese, Zinc<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Free Amino Acids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Cysteine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Arginine, Hydroxyproline<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These aid in balanced plant growth, improved nutrient uptake, stress resistance, root development, and enhanced chlorophyll concentration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Simple Sugars and Sugar Alcohols<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Provide energy for protein synthesis and boost plant defense mechanisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Plant Hormones (Cytokinins, Auxins)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Delay senescence, prevent leaf and fruit drop, maintain chlorophyll levels, promote cell division, encourage root growth, and enhance storage capacity in leafy crops like lettuce and parsley.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alginic Acid<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Released from seaweed cell walls during extraction, forming water-soluble chelates of minerals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Mg, Ca), improving nutrient availability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Laminarin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Stimulates plant immune responses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fucose-Containing Polysaccharides (FCPs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Possess antiviral and antioxidant properties.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Vitamins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), B12, Vitamin C, which regulate plant growth, enhance photosynthesis, and promote root development.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Average Chemical Composition of Ascophyllum Nodosum (Pereira et al., 2020)<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Water<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 12\u201315%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cellulose<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 8%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ash<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 17\u201320%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protein<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 5\u201310%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alginic Acid<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 20\u201329%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fucoidan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 19%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mannitol<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 5\u20138%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Laminarin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2\u201336%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Carotene<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 30\u201360 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Macronutrients:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phosphorus: 0.1\u20131.15%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potassium: 2\u20133%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Calcium: 1\u20133%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium: 0.5\u20130.9%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sulfur: 2.5\u20133.5%<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Micronutrients:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iron: 150\u20131,000 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manganese: 10\u201350 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zinc: 50\u2013200 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boron: 40\u2013100 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Molybdenum: 0.3\u20131 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sodium: 3\u20134%<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Trace Elements:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cobalt: 1\u201310 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iodine: 700\u20131,200 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nickel: 2\u20135 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barium: 15\u201350 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Vitamins:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin C: 500\u2013200 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin A: 30\u201360 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin K: 10 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin E: 150\u2013300 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Folic Acid: 0.1\u20130.5 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Vitamin B Complex:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B1: 15 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B2: 5\u201310 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B3: 10\u201330 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B6: &lt;1 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B7: 0.1\u20130.4 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B12: 0.004%<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B9 (Folic Acid): 0.1\u20130.5 mg\/kg<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How to Use Seaweed Fertilizer<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweed fertilizer can be applied directly to plant leaves or added to soil around plant roots. It can also be used for seed soaking before planting to improve germination. Regular application throughout plant growth stages enhances development and increases resilience against environmental stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The highest recorded concentration of <\/span><b>Ascophyllum nodosum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a fertilizer formulation is found in<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/products\/foralgbmo\/\"> <b>ForalgBMO<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asfertglobal.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <b>AsfertGlobal<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Portugal), making it the most potent and effective product for promoting plant growth and resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>References<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cai, J., Lovatelli, A., Aguilar-Manjarrez, J., Cornish, L., Dabbadie, L., Desrochers, A., Diffey, S., Garrido Gamarro, E., Geehan, J., Hurtado, A., Lucente, D., Mair, G., Miao, W., Potin, P., Przybyla, C., Reantaso, M., Roubach, R., Tauati, M. &amp; Yuan, X. (2021). <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seaweeds and microalgae: An overview for unlocking their potential in global aquaculture development<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1229. Rome, FAO. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4060\/cb1229<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your Comprehensive Guide to Seaweed Fertilizer: Types, Benefits, and Agricultural Uses Table of Contents The Global Importance of Seaweed and Algae Benefits of Seaweed for Plants Types of Seaweed Seaweed Used in Agriculture Unique Chemical Compounds in Brown Seaweed Benefits of Seaweed Fertilizer How to Use Seaweed Fertilizer The Global Importance of Seaweed and Algae &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/blog\/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%85%d8%a7-%d9%87%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Seaweed: What is Seaweed Fertilizer, Its Benefits for Agriculture, and How is It Used?<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":819,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcbiotech.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}