Back to the Origins: Potential of Beach-Cast Macroalgae as Biofertilizer

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Pardilhó, S (Author) FEUP; Cotas, J (Author) Other; Pacheco, D (Author) Other; Bahcevandziev, K (Author) Other; Pereira, L (Author) Other; Beatriz B P P Oliveira (Author) FFUP; Joana Dias (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Waste and Biomass Valorization

ISSN: 1877-2641

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-ZCP

DOI: 10.1007/s12649-022-01922-7

Abstract (EN): In the present study, Marine Macroalgae Waste (MMW) biomass, mainly composed of Saccorhiza polyschides, collected from the seashore in northern Portugal, was characterized and seed germination was performed to evaluate the potential of re-exploiting this biomass for agricultural purposes. Kale (Brassica oleracea L) and parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) seeds were used in laboratory assays (23 degrees C; 10-33 days) to study the effect of using two types of MMW derived products: liquid (water extraction, 0.12 g/mL; diluted at 1.2 vol.%) and solid (after filtering the extract); distilled water was used as control. The germination rate and growth parameters (radicular and aerial part lengths and weights) of the seedlings were further measured. The raw biomass showed promising results for agricultural purposes due to the high carbohydrate content (69.97 +/- 0.08 wt.%), mainly composed by fibers (63.4 +/- 0.1 wt.%), and the presence of minerals (ash content of 18.54 +/- 0.07 wt.%). High amounts of K (2242 mg/100 g), Ca (1886 mg/100 g), Na (985 mg/100 g) and Mg (546 mg/100 g) were found in the ash, with the toxic elements content being within the regulated limits. Seeds germinated better with the liquid extract than with the solid product, with significantly higher (p < 0.05) aerial and radicular lengths and weights compared to the control, from up to 42 and 27% for kale and parsnip seeds, respectively. The results show that the production of biostimulants, biofertilizers or soil conditioners from this resource might be feasible and that further studies should be conducted. [GRAPHICS] .

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15