What is the impact of seaweed farming and seaweed fertilizer good for the environment and importance of seaweed in agriculture?
Seaweed mariculture for purposes including fertilizer production has the potential to improve environmental conditions in coastal habitats, especially with regards to toxic algal blooms, as mariculture seaweeds uptake excess nutrients that have resulted from runoff, thereby inhibiting the growth of toxic algal blooms. Seaweed products are useful products for organic gardeners wishing to avoid synthetic fertilizers or fertilizers made from animal products, providing a useful source of potassium, magnesium and trace elements. Seaweed and seaweed fertilizers are usually a sustainable, renewable resource. Seaweed aquaculture contributes to climate change adaptation by damping wave energy and protecting shorelines, and by elevating pH and supplying oxygen to the waters, thereby locally reducing the effects of ocean acidification and de-oxygenation. In agriculture seaweed has found application as animal food, as soil conditioner and manure, and, in the form of liquid extracts, as growth promoter and crop protecting against pests and diseases. Impacts of seaweed farming on native seaweed populations for introduced non-native seaweeds are associated with the risk of becoming invasive in their new habitat, changing environmental conditions and even outcompeting native flora and fauna
@ RK, Seaweed fertilizer are usually a sustainable and renewable resource. It is rich in beneficial trace minerals and hormones that stimulate plant growth. Seaweed is high in carbohydrates which are essential building blocks in growing plants, and low in cellulose so it breaks down readily. Seaweed contains several useful plant nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and magnesium. Mainly tomato, lady's finger, potatoes, sweet corn, strawberries, apples, oranges, and capsicum has been reported to likes seaweed as fertilizer. The seaweeds create forage and refuge habitat for commercially important fish and diversity of marine life. It also act as a sponge soaking up what's in the water. These marine plants could potentially be cultivated to reduce heavy metals and other coastal pollutants. Seaweed products are useful products for organic gardeners wishing to avoid synthetic fertilizers or fertilizer's made from animal products, providing a useful source of potassium, magnesium and trace elements. Only thing is, it is not a complete fertilizer and have to apply some supplements and there is a risk of becoming invasive in their new habitat, changing environmental conditions and even outcompeting native flora and fauna (Bax et al. 2003; Schaffelke and Hewitt 2007).
Seaweed farms absorb nutrients and carbon dioxide to grow. The farms can help improve water quality and buffer the effects of ocean acidification in surrounding areas. Seaweed products are useful products for organic gardeners wishing to avoid synthetic fertilizers or fertilizers made from animal products, providing a useful source of potassium, magnesium and trace elements. Seaweed and seaweed fertilizers are usually a sustainable, renewable resource. Seaweeds are rich in nutrients, such as fibre, iodine and vitamin K, and have been an important source of food, animal feed and fertilizer for coastal communities for thousands of years. Because seaweed is rich in micro and macronutrients, humic acids, and phytohormones, it enhances soil fertility. In addition, seaweed-derived fertilizers contain polysaccharides, proteins, and fatty acids which improve the moisture and nutrient retention of soil, contributing to improved crop growth. The major industrial applications of seaweeds are as a source of agar, agarose and carrageenan used in laboratories, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cardboard, paper, paint and processed foods. In fact, seaweed fertilizers have the broadest range of benefits to plants beyond plant nutrition. They also promote bacterial activity in soil mediums. Known to improve root nutrient intake. Along with having the ability to improve resistance to disease, pests and abiotic plant stress.
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