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Effects of seaweed (Sargassum crassifolium) extract foliar application on seedling performance of Zea mays L.

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
  • 2Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • 3Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 5, Issue (4), Pages 1-5, April,8 (2017)

Abstract

At present-day, Necessity for an ecological pleasing agriculture to nourish the increasing population is in high demand for the production of quality and healthy food. Efforts are underway for the sustainable crop production with organic fertilizers and botanicals from natural resources to enhance the production of commercially important crops. In this regard, a pot experiment was conducted at the Crop Farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka, to assess the effects of foliar application of seaweed (Sargassum crassifolium) extract on seedling performance of Zea mays L. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates. The seaweed extract at different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 50% and 100%) and distilled water as control were applied to maize seedlings (up to 21 days old) once a week during experimental period. The seedling performance (Plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), fresh and dry weight of shoot and root (g)) were recorded at weekly intervals. Highest performance was recorded in application of 20 % seaweed extract than other treatments (p<0.05). The 20% concentration significantly increased the dry matter accumulation, plant height and leaf area of the seedlings. Therefore, it could be concluded that the seaweed extract at 20% concentration can be used to boost the vegetative growth of Zea mays seedlings.

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