GMSARN International Conference on Sustainable Development: Issues and Prospects for the GMS

12-14 Nov. 2008

Effectiveness of Myanmar Brown Seaweed (Sargassum spp.) Extract as Organic Fertilizer in Pot Trial of Rice
Lei Lei Win and Khin Maung Saing

Abstract- Seaweed extract products applied to crops for beneficial effects attributed to the presence of natural plant growth hormones (i.e cytokinin, auxin ) as well as other plant biostimulants ( e.g. betaines, polyamines, oligosaccharides ), which improve plant resistance and tolerance to environmental disease and insect stresses. This study aimed to determine appropriate dilution of the seaweed extract (Sargassum spp.) for rice plant as organic fertilizer. In this study, the four dilutions of seaweed extract were applied to rice plant. The highest dilution (3.2% v/v) of seaweed extract in neutral water gave the best 1000 grain weight (19.77gm) and protein content (14.46%) with carbohydrate (60.4%). Seaweed extract and suspensions have achieved a broader use and market than seaweed and seaweed meal. They are sold in concentrated form, are easy to transport, dilute, apply and act more rapidly. In Myanmar, large quantities of brown seaweeds are cast ashore at Chaungtha beach every summer and interfered with recreational uses of beach. So, utilization of seaweed extract and their extracts as organic fertilizer simultaneously could also solve environmental pollution problems. Although the extract dilution of 3.2% v/v achieved best results in rice growth, further experiments are still necessary to pin-point the optimum application frequency and volume.
Key words: Organic fertilizer, rice, Sargassum spp., seaweed extract.

1.

INTRODUCTION

Rice is the most important crop in Myanmar in terms of acreage, number of farmers and export earning. The ability to improve its production is therefore very crucial. Rice (Oryza sativa Linn Japonica Type) is cultivated in a wide range of ecological environments world wide. Myanmar, an agricultural country has 7 million hectares of paddy rice as typical crop whose area covers about 62 % of the net grown area [ 1 ]. Hence, the demand for fertilizers is very high. In Myanmar, poor farmers who have no options left but to depend on the use of available organic and natural fertilizers. Because of its affordability to most resource poor farmers, the expanded use of farm yard manure (FYM) including organic fertilizers became more important in maintaining crop yields and sustaining good quality and soil fertility. Moreover, Myanmar has tried to introduce the decomposition technology. The raw materials for compost making were not enough because of the increasing multi-user demands for crop residues and weeds. Seaweeds or marine algae are integral parts of the coastal ecology and landscape. Marine algae are enormous natural resources that have in recent decades become fundamental to numerous industries. Some of the historical uses of marine plants in various parts of the world and to show how some simple uses of the wild vegetation have evolved into important industrial productions and marine agricultural practices that tough the lives of millions of people. The value of seaweeds in fertilizing the soil was discovered early in the history of agriculture in coastal Asia, The seasonal casts of drift weeds are the most convenient supplies in all these regions, and are not only used directly by introduction into the soil, but often piled on the farms to dry or to partially disintegrate before being worked into the soil.
Lei Lei Win (corresponding author) and Khin Maung Saing are with Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Myanmar. Email: wave258@gmail.com.

Seaweed fertilizer has been the primary support of populations in coastal regions. Not only chemical fertilization but also the waterholding capacity of fragments of the algae in the soil proved effective. These provided valuable small reservoirs of water in close contact with the roots of the cultivated plants. Furthermore, the bulky organic substances decay slowly in the soil and form humus [2]. Seaweed is constantly worn down by tides and eaten by fish, so it must grow rapidly to survive. A frond of seaweed can grow a foot or more a day, given optimal conditions. The seaweed when applied to plants as a foliar spray, can increase the rate of cell division and elongation in those plants. The hormones also seaweed, when applied to plants as a foliar spray, can increase the rate of cell division and elongation in those plants. The hormones also increase root growth when applied to the soil as a meal or when seaweed extract is used as a root dip. In tests at South Carolina's Clemson University, seeds soaked in liquid seaweed extract showed rapid germination, and the resulting seedlings had increased root mass and stronger plant growth than seedlings from untreated seeds. They also had a higher survival rate. Soaking plant roots in seaweed extract reduces transport shock and speeds root growth. Seaweed foliar sprays promote faster, stronger stem and leaf growth, and earlier blossoming and fruit set sprayed on leaves and flower buds [3].

2.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preparation of pot trial The experiments in pots were conducted in a green house. Earthen pots with a diameter of 20.32cm and a height of 15.24 cm were used for the pot trial on rice. Each of the earthen pots was filled with 2kg of air-dried soil and planted with 10 rice seedlings (4 weeks-old and ~ 30 cm height). Totally 50 pots were used, with 10 pots for each treatment.

Preparation of seaweed extract Fresh brown seaweed drifts containing of Sargassum trichophyllum, S. salicifoloides, S. kasyotenese, S. tenerrimun, S. carpophyllum, S. duplicatum, S. ilicifolium, S.cristaefolium, S. plagiophyllum,S. swartzii, S .polycystum were collected from Chaungtha beach [4]. The wet seaweed was cleaned from foreign matter or debris such as shells, ropes, bottles, and other detritus and washed with fresh water. And then, the seaweed was placed on bamboo poles to hang and dried in the sun. When the moisture content of the seaweed is no greater than about 14 % which generally takes 2-3 days, the seaweed was ground to 60 mesh size in a blender [5]. The ground seaweed was weighed and kept in water-tight plastic container and chilled to a temperature (-20C) for 20 minutes. This freezing causes cellular rupture and better release of content during subsequent extraction. The ground seaweed powder (113.4 gm dry weight) was added to 2 liters of distilled water (wt/wt) with 0.1 % alginic acid powder. And then this mixture was heated to 75C with continuous stirring agitation for 2 hours to reach seaweed slurry state. The length of time of extraction at warm temperature affect the amount of cytokinins, amino acids, and other components extracted from the seaweed. Solids in the slurry were separated from the liquid extract through a 60 mesh filter screen and 0.1% formaldehyde solution was added as a preservative. Finally, 800 ml of seaweed extract (pH 6.8) were obtained from this procedure and from this liquid seaweed extract four dilutions were prepared for the application in pot trial. Components of seaweed extract The seaweed extract is composed of total nitrogen 0.03%, total P2O5 0.04%, total K2O 0.14%, total Ca 2.00%, total Na 0.15%, total Fe++ 4.48%, total organic matter 4.47%, total S 1.20%, alginic acid 0.1%, at pH 6.8 with light brown colour and no characteristic odour. The extract was analyzed at the Soil Analysis Laboratory of Land Use Division of Myanmar Agricultural Service under Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Application of seaweed extract According to literature [5], seaweed extract at 3.78% v/v dilution (i.e.16 oz of extract in 3 gallon of water) was applied at the dosage of 12 L/ acre. Hence, four dilutions of seaweed extract (i.e. 0.8% v/v, 1.6% v/v, 2.4% v/v, and 3.2% v/v) for 4 treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4) were prepared in 250 ml of neutral water respectively. Each dilution (250 ml) was then applied as foliar spray by a hand-held sprayer to 10 pots per treatment, with 25 ml of the dilution applied to each pot per treatment. The application time was in late evening (~ 25C) when leaf stomas were opened. The spraying was done once per day. Undiluted seaweed extract 5 ml in 1 liter of neutral water (0.5% v/v) was also applied to 10 pots per treatment as soil watering in the evening once per day (Table.1). This means about 100 ml/pot per treatment. No extracts were applied to control plants.

nutritive analysis of rice grains. The rice was harvested at 56 DAT (days after transplantation) (Table.2).
Table 1. Seaweed extracts application dosages in pot trial

Table 2. Effect of various dilutions on growth of rice seedlings in pot trial

At harvest, about 56 DAT, mean plant height ranged from 59.2 to 70.4 cm among the 4 treatments. The slowest growth was found in control. The maximum mean plant height was (70.4 cm) occurred in T4 treatment. The rice plant treated with 3.2% v/v (T4) of seaweed extract had maximum mean number of panicles (19.5/pot). The minimum mean number of panicles (14.9 /pot) was found in rice treated with 0.8% extract (T1). The lowest value (10.1/pot) was observed in control (CT).

3.

RESULTS

Fig. 1. Nutritive values of rice grains with treated with various dilutions of seaweed extract. Maximum mean value of 19.77 gm of 1000 grain weight was observed for T4 treatment (3.2% v/v) of seaweed extract whereas minimum mean value of 17.15 gm of 1000 grain weight was found in T1 treated 0.8%

In the pot trial, the growth of seedlings was monitored by the parameters of mean values of plant height, number of panicles/pot, 1000 grain weight and

v/v extract. The lowest 1000 grain weight (15.77 gm) occurred in control. Nutritive analysis for carbohydrates, proteins and ash in rice grains obtained from the four seaweed extract dilution treatments were analyzed at Analytical Laboratory of Myanmar Scientific and Technological Research Department under Ministry of Science and Technology. The highest mean carbohydrate value (69.35 %) was observed in grain treated with seaweed extract 2.4% v/v (T3). There had been a fluctuation in values of carbohydrate among the rice grains obtained in the four treatments (Figure. 1). However, the highest mean value of protein 14.46% was found in grains treated with 3.2% v/v/ of seaweed extract (T4) and the lowest value of protein 10.64% was observed in grains treated with 0.8% v/v seaweed extract (T1). Moreover, the highest value of ash (1.87%) was observed for control treated only with water.

environmentally friendly. So, the extract probably have a bright future. Although the results of fertilizer experiments often have been contradictory, proper fertilizer formulations could increase rice yield. The challenge is to find effective ways, to apply the seaweed extract organic fertilizers and to determine proper nutrients combination and dilution to obtain high yield. From overall data of the present study, it could be concluded that the seaweed extract is an effective fertilizer that can be used as a low cost organic fertilizers on rice with good yield and nutritive values. But further studies, such as field trial are still necessary to determine appropriate application dosage and frequency to improve grain yield.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

4.

DISCUSSION

According to data, rice plants treated with various dilutions of seaweed extract showed good growth parameters such as plant height, number of panicles, 1000 grain weight and nutritive values of grains. Moreover, the highest dilution of seaweed extract 3.2% v/v gave the best value of protein content. This value was also better than those of the other treatments. Regarding 1000 grain weight, the seaweed extract treatment 3.2% v/v produced the highest mean value of 19.77 gm. This showed the seaweed extract had a positive effect on rice yield and accelerated seed maturity. The results indicated that higher dilutions of seaweed extract are necessary to promote rice growth. Sargassum is rich in alginic acid, cytokinin and other rapid growing hormones [6]. There had been many, many controlled studies to show the value of using seaweed extract [7]. A scan of the sources of scientific literature shows that seaweeds are active sources of many helpful ingredients. The most notable of these are the plant growth regulators (PGRs) called cytokinin [8]. Adenine is the parent molecule of the family of plant hormones that includes the natural PGRs, zeatine, zeatine riboside, isopentenyl adenine and dihydrozeatin. There are roughly 16-18 cytokinins produced naturally by plants and marine algae. These natural compounds are slightly different from synthetic PGRs not naturally produced by plants such as kinetin or benzyladenine [9] - [10]. The natural PGRs in seaweed extract is immediately available to the plant at the early part of its growth cycle, before producing its own PGR supply: all these factors result in hardier plant, early crop maturity, improved crop quality and higher yield [6]. In T3, using 2.4% v/v extract, more carbohydrate rich grain were produced, whereas in 3.2% v/v extract treatment ( T4 ), the grains were relatively richer in proteins. Hence, the data of the nutritive analysis of rice grains (Figure.1) also indicated that, by selecting appropriate dilution percentage of seaweed extract in water, the carbohydrate and protein contents of grains could be adjusted to produce desired quality.

Author is grateful to His Excellency U Thaung, Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology for allowing me to conduct this research. I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Mya Mya Oo, Rector, Yangon Technological University for her support of this research.
REFERENCES [1] Htay Win. S. 2005. Improving Plant Nutrient Management for Better Farmer-livelihood,Food Security and Environmental Sustainability. In Proceedings of a Regional Workshop, Beijing, China.12-16 December . [2] Dawson,E.Y.1966.Marine Botany, An introduction.New York.Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. 1-371. [3] Smitte, D.1991. Seaweeds comes ashore. Fine Gardening Nov/Dec 22: 31-33, 1991. [4] Kyi Shwe and Aung Myint (1991). Lists of identified seaweed of Myanmar indigenous brown seaweed ( Sargassum spp.), alginophytes ( Herbarium Sheets and Detail Drawings for Taxonomic Studies), Figs 136 , Deparment of Marine Science, Mawlamyine University, Myanmar 1991. [5] Campell, W.E.(1993). Plant Growth Product: Freepatentsonline .Retrieved April 13,1993 from the World Wide Web: http//www.freepatentsoline.com/5201930.html. [6] Institute for Marketecology ( IMO ). No date. Organic product: Suitable for Organic Farming ( BIO BAUER ) Retrieved from the World Wide Web: http//www.organicresearch.com/lawsRegs/db/dbcontacts.asp).

[7] Blunder, G. (1991). [Review of the books Mchugh.D.J. A guide to the seaweed industry]. Agricultural uses of seaweeds and seaweed extracts .pp. 65-81. FAO Fishries technical paper 441.In Guiry and Blunden, q.v. [8] Kingma,A.R. and Moore, J. (1982). [ Review of Norri,J. and Hiltz, D.A. Agro-food Hi-TechMarch/April 1991World Wide Web:http://www.acadian seaplants.com]. Botanica Marina XXV 149-153

5.

CONCLUSION

Seaweed extract are economical alternatives to NPK fertilizers. But when used with NPK fertilizer they improve the effectiveness so less chemical fertilizers can be used , with a lowering of cost and is also

[9] Salisbury,F.B. and Ross,C.W.(1985). [ Review of Norri,J. and Hiltz, D.A. Agro-food Hi-TechMarch/April 1991 World Wide Web:http://www.acadian seaplants.com]. Plant physiology,3rd Edn., Wadsworth Publishing. Belmont.California. [10] Wareing,P.F.and Phillips, I.D.J.(1981). [ Review of Norri,J. and Hiltz, D.A. Agro-food Hi-TechMarch/April 1991] World Wide Web:http://www.acadian seaplants.com. Growth and differentiationin plants; Pergamon Press, Toronto.