The Benefits of using Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser for Plants, Crops and Orchards

Seaweed is not only known for its rich nutritional content but also for its naturally balanced minerals. In agriculture, these minerals play a crucial role in maintaining the health and vitality of various ecosystems, including soil, animals, plants, and humans.

Seaweed spends its entire life absorbing minerals from the surrounding seawater, making it an excellent source of essential trace elements. These trace elements include iodine, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper, among others. The unique composition of these minerals in liquid seaweed fertiliser ensures a natural balance that is highly beneficial for the overall health of soil, plants and trees.

In terms of soil health, incorporating liquid seaweed fertiliser into agricultural practices can enhance nutrient availability and promote microbial activity. The minerals present in seaweed act as natural amendments that enrich the soil and contribute to improved plant growth and productivity.

2 Types of Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser

When it comes to utilising liquid seaweed fertiliser for its various benefits in agricultural applications, there are two main methods: seaweed extracts (emulsions) and seaweed ferments. In this section, we will discuss the key differences between these two approaches and focus on the benefits of heat extracted liquid seaweed versus cold extracted (fermented) liquid seaweed fertiliser.

1.      1. Heat Treated Liquid Seaweed Emulsion

Seaweed extracts refer to the process of extracting beneficial compounds from seaweed through chemical or heat treated means. This method involves breaking down the cell walls of the seaweed using solvents or enzymes, resulting in a concentrated liquid extract.

Chemically extracted, or heat treated, liquid seaweed offers several advantages. Firstly, this method allows for a more controlled extraction process, ensuring that specific compounds are targeted and obtained in higher concentrations. This can lead to more consistent and reliable results when using liquid seaweed products.

Secondly, heat treated or chemically extracted liquid seaweed fertiliser often have a longer shelf life compared to fermented products. The extraction process can help preserve the active compounds in a stable form for an extended period of time without compromising their effectiveness.

Furthermore, chemically extracted liquid seaweed fertiliser can be formulated to contain specific ratios of beneficial compounds which allows for tailored solutions that cater to specific plant needs or desired outcomes.

Lastly, because chemically extracted liquid seaweed fertiliser is a concentrated form of active compounds found in seaweed, they can be used at lower application rates compared to cold extracted or fermented products.

2.     2. Cold Processed Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser

On the other hand, seaweed ferments involve a natural cold fermentation process where microorganisms break down the organic matter in seaweed, releasing beneficial compounds.

Biologically fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser, also known as seaweed ferments, is gaining popularity due to its numerous benefits. During the fermentation process, beneficial microorganisms break down the seaweed’s components into smaller molecules, making them more bioavailable for plants and easier to absorb. This results in enhanced nutrient uptake and improved plant growth.

One of the key advantages of biologically fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser is its ability to stimulate plant immune systems. The fermentation process enhances the production of natural compounds like phytohormones, vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids that can boost plants’ resistance against diseases and pests.

Additionally, biologically fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser contains a wide range of nutrients essential for plant growth. These include macro and micronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and trace elements. These nutrients contribute to healthier roots, increased flowering or fruiting capacity, improved soil structure, and overall plant vigor.

Furthermore, the use of biologically fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser can enhance soil fertility by promoting microbial activity. The beneficial microorganisms present in the ferment can help improve soil structure by stimulating microbial activity in the soil.  It can also break down organic matter into humus and facilitate nutrient cycling.

Overall, based on these benefits, it is clear that biologically fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser offers unique advantages compared to traditional seaweed extracts. This makes it an excellent choice for farmers, gardeners, and agricultural enthusiasts who seek sustainable ways to enhance plant health, growth, and productivity.

Benefits of Using Cold Fermented Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser

Seaweed, as a natural chelate, offers numerous benefits for farmers practicing regenerative agriculture. One of the key advantages is its highly cost-effective nature.

In regenerative agriculture, farmers aim to improve soil health and fertility while minimising their reliance on synthetic inputs. Cold processed liquid seaweed fertiliser serves as an excellent alternative, providing a range of essential nutrients and trace elements that are beneficial for plant growth.

As a chelating agent, liquid seaweed fertiliser helps in improving nutrient availability to plants by binding essential minerals and making them more easily absorbed. This not only enhances crop productivity but also reduces the need, in many cases, for additional fertilisers.

Moreover, seaweed used as a liquid fertiliser has been found to promote root development and enhance soil structure. It contains natural growth hormones such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins that stimulate plant growth and increase resistance to environmental stressors.

Another advantage of liquid seaweed fertiliser is its ability to act as a bio-stimulant, improving the overall health and resilience of crops. It can enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, increase tolerance to pests and diseases, and improve drought tolerance.

Furthermore, seaweed is abundant in organic matter which contributes to soil carbon sequestration – an important aspect of regenerative agriculture that helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, utilising liquid seaweed fertiliser in regenerative agriculture provides farmers with a highly cost-effective and sustainable option that not only improves soil health but also enhances crop productivity while reducing the reliance on synthetic inputs.

Top Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser Benefits;

1.     Seaweed Promotes Plant Photosynthesis

Liquid seaweed fertiliser contains natural compounds such as cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins that can enhance the growth and development of plants. These compounds act as growth regulators and help in improving photosynthetic efficiency.

When cold processed liquid seaweed fertiliser, applied to plants, can increase the rate of photosynthesis by enhancing chlorophyll production and improving nutrient uptake. This leads to healthier plants with increased biomass and improved crop yields.

2.     Seaweed Assist Plant Resistance to Abiotic Stressors

One of the key advantages of using cold processed liquid seaweed fertiliser is its ability to boost a plant’s immune system. Seaweeds are rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, amino acids, and vitamins that stimulate the production of plant defense mechanisms. These compounds help plants build stronger cell walls, activate defense genes, and produce antimicrobial substances that can fend off diseases and pests, and have been found to enhance plant resilience against environmental stressors such as drought, salinity, and temperature fluctuations. They help in strengthening the plant’s defense mechanisms and improving its ability to withstand adverse conditions. 

3.     Liquid Seaweed Supports Early Plant Growth

One of the key advantages of seaweed is its high concentration of growth-promoting hormones such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins. These hormones play a crucial role in stimulating cell division, elongation, and differentiation in plants, leading to faster and healthier growth.

Additionally, seaweed, on its own, acts as a natural fertiliser by enriching the soil with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements. These nutrients are vital for plant development and contribute to improved root growth, stronger stems, increased leaf production, and enhanced overall plant vigor.  When used in a biologically active liquid seaweed fertiliser form, these minerals and trace elements become bio-available, or easy to uptake for the soil, plants and trees.

Read article ‘How To Maximise Seed Germination Using Seaweed Biological Fertiliser’

4.     Seaweed improves Taste, Colour, Texture and Nutrient Density of Food

Another key advantage of using cold processed liquid seaweed fertiliser is its impact on taste. It has been found that plants treated with liquid seaweed fertiliser tend to have improved flavour profiles compared to those grown with traditional chemical-based fertilisers. The natural compounds, present in seaweed, can enhance the overall taste and aroma of fruits, vegetables, and other edible crops.

In addition to enhancing taste, seaweed fertiliser also contributes to enhancing the colour and texture of food. The minerals and trace elements found in seaweed help plants develop vibrant colours and improve the visual appeal of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, these nutrients promote healthy cell growth in plants, resulting in a desirable texture that consumers appreciate.

Moreover, liquid seaweed fertiliser is known for its ability to enrich the nutritional content of food. Seaweeds are rich sources of essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and iodine. When used as a fertiliser for plants, these nutrients are absorbed by the crops and subsequently passed on to consumers when they consume these foods. This can contribute to a more nutrient-rich diet for individuals. 

Read article ‘Top 7 Benefits of Seaweed in Regenerative Agriculture’

The use of cold fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser in agriculture is gaining popularity due to its numerous benefits. It is considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to effectively promoting soil health, plant growth and plant immunity, without relying heavily on synthetic fertilisers or chemicals.

To find out more about Cold Processed, or naturally fermented liquid seaweed fertiliser visit SONIC Natural Farming