The effect of water extracts of green alga Codium tomentosum and brown alga Sargassum vulgare as seaweed liquid fertilizers (SLFs) on germination, growth of seedling and the photosynthetic pigment constituents have been studied. Different concentrations ( 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) of SLF were prepared using distilled water. 60 seeds were soaked in each SLF concentration for 12 hours and later placed in various Petri plates, whereas water-soaked seeds were used as controls. Seed germinating percentages were 98 and 97% on use of the 20% SLF of Sargassum vulgare and Codium tomentosum, respectively. Similarly, shoot length, root length, fresh and dry weights of seedlings were significantly increased, as compared with the control, at 20% concentration of either Sargassum vulgare or Codium tomentosum with a higher effectiveness of the former (brown alga). The chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in leaves also showed maximum enhancement, in response to application of the SLF of each of the two seaweeds under investigation, particularly S. vulgare. The relatively high concentrations of SLF in either of the studied two algae showed a decreasing trend with respect to germination and seedling growth criteria of wheat.
Key words: Biofertilizer, Triticum aestivum, Seaweed liquid fertilizer
|
