Botany · Ch 9 — Plant Breeding
Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer
Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer
Seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) is produced mainly from kelp, a brown alga that can grow up to 150 metres long (Figure 9.7), and it supplies plant hormones — cytokinins, gibberellins and auxin — alongside macro- and micronutrients. It is both organic and eco-friendly. The alginates present in seaweed react with metals in the soil to form long, cross-linked polymers; these improve soil crumb structure, swell on wetting, and retain moisture for extended periods, which is especially valuable in organic gardening. Seaweed itself contains more than 70 minerals, vitamins and enzymes, and its use promotes vigorous plant growth, improves resistance …
What this figure shows. A photograph of a large frond of kelp, a brown alga that can grow up to 150 metres long and is the primary raw material used to manufacture seaweed liquid fertilizer, shown as harvested seaweed material used in the fertilize …