The Technical Parameters of Seaweed Biostimulant Spray Application as a Factor in the Economic Viability of Soybean Production

Abstract

Application of biostimulant in the form of a spraying requires appropriate selection of technical parameters. One of the key factors in ensuring that the liquid is sprayed correctly is the choice of suitable spray nozzles. This study investigated selected technical parameters of seaweed biostimulant spray applications as a factor for plant biometrics, crop quality and yield, and the economic viability of production. This objective was achieved by conducting a two-year field experiment involving spraying soybean plants with a biostimulant containing seaweed extract. The spraying was carried out with two types of nozzles (standard and air-injector), for which the droplet size and the degree of plant coverage were tested at 4.0 MPa. The surface tension of the spray liquid and the area and volume of the droplets were tested. The height of soybean plants, the height and the position of the first pod, the number of pods, seed yield, and the weight of 1000 seeds were measured. The physical properties of the liquid sprayed on the plants and the type of nozzles used were factors affecting the height of the first pods, plant height, and protein content. The application of biostimulants using standard nozzles is more economically advantageous compared to nozzles with an air-injector.

Application of commercial seaweed extract-based biostimulants to enhance adventitious root formation in ornamental cutting propagation protocols: a review

“…Biostimulants derived from A. nodosum extract have demonstrated various positive effects on fruit and vegetable crops: plant vigor, increased root development, enhanced chlorophyll synthesis, promotion of earlier flowering, enhancement of fruit set and uniformity, delayed senescence, and increased tolerance to abiotic stress (Shukla et al, 2019). SE application can introduce microbial communities at the point of inoculation; on the other hand, foliar application to vegetative growth stages is aimed at stimulating signal tracts to reduce abiotic stresses (Adedayo and Babalola, 2023;Krawczuk et al, 2023). These beneficial outcomes highlight the potential of A. nodosum extract biostimulants in contributing to overall plant health and productivity (Łangowski et al, 2019).…”

Zeolite Amendment for Enhanced Onion Growth with Reduced Mineral Nitrogen Fertilization: A Promising Approach

“…Seaweed extract also known as seaweed or marine macroalgae is regarded as a supply of organic matter as well as mineral nutrients. It performs a function as an activator of cell division and offers a rise to antioxidant rates for safety towards any environmental stress (Seif et al, 2016;Ashour et al, 2023;Krawczuk et al, 2023).…”