Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
Seaweed extracts are well known to help with crop stressors, but until recently had not been connected to soil health. We have conducted research to show the connection.
About
The health of soil is a primary concern to farmers and the global population whose food security depends on well-managed agriculture. Soil is the most important tool we have to feed a fast-growing world in the coming decades. To meet the demands of the world’s growing population, farmers must maximize their productivity in a sustainable way. Acadian Plant Health™ and its Ascophyllum nodosum extracts (seaweed extracts) have proven to improve stress tolerance and crop vigour, but until recently had not been studied extensively to see the impact on soil microbes. First, we studied whether the seaweed extract has a direct effect on increasing growth and colonization of mycorrhizal fungi, and second, whether it promotes the symbiotic relationship between the plants and the fungi. Our results showed that indeed there was a direct correlation between our seaweed extracts and the growth of the fungi as well as enhancement of the plant-microbe symbiosis. These results are a positive move to increase agriculture sustainability using these seaweed extracts to improve soil structure.
Key Benefits
Healthy soil not only impacts the ability for farmers to meet world food demand. Healthy soil also stores more carbon. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and convert it into carbohydrates, which they use to grow leaves, stems and roots. An increase in microbes and stronger roots are part of long-term carbon sequestration. Soil plays a vital role in the world of agriculture – it is essential we figure out ways to conserve and revitalize this finite resource. We have been focused on how to get the most food out of the ground today – but to produce enough food for tomorrow we must consider new approaches so we can farm into the future.
Applications
Seaweed extracts can be used in conjunction with fertilizer or other crop protection products. As the world moves to more sustainable solutions and increased pressure to decrease synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, seaweed extracts can play a pivotal role in ensuring food security.