Seaweed extract-based biostimulants alleviate nutrient stress and enhance productivity and grain quality of wheat through efficient use of fertilizers nutrients under sub-optimal NPK application
摘要
Seaweed-extract-based products (SWEP) are well-known for their biostimulatory effects on crop stress tolerance and productivity. The potential of SWEP in minimizing the agrochemical use in major cereal crops needs to be explored and the underlying plant physiological biochemistry and soil nutrient dynamics need to be studied. A greenhouse study was conducted where wheat was grown in pots with acidic soil (pH 3.87) collected from the Northeastern Hill region (NEHR), India. The impact of SWEPs, i.e., SagarikaTM liquid and SagarikaTM granules application on physiological biochemistry, yield, grain quality, and nutrient use efficiency in wheat was evaluated, along with the soil fertility and microbiology. The granular SWEP, through its inherent alkalinity, increased soil pH by 0.34 - 0.44 units, modified the soil environment, improved microbial activity, and increased nutrient bioavailability. The liquid SWEP improved crop nutrient-stress tolerance through antioxidant enzyme production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under sub-optimal NPK supply. The synergistic effect of liquid and granular SWEP improved wheat productivity and grain nutritional quality while promoting efficient nutrient utilization and preventing soil nutrient depletion. The soil application of granular SWEP @ 25 kg ha-1, and 2 sprays of liquid SWEP @ 5 ml L-1 with 75% recommended NPK increased the utilization efficiency of N, P, and K by ~58, 57, and 11%, respectively, compared to 100% NPK application. The combined application of liquid and granular SWEP potentially could curtail the NPK-fertilizer dose by 25% without hampering the crop yield or soil fertility. The study emphasizes the immediate inclusion of these two SWEP in the agrochemical management of wheat in NEHR, India.