Summary
This field trial evaluated whether anaerobically fermented red algal biostimulant from Furcellaria lumbricalis could reduce mineral fertiliser inputs whilst maintaining radish yield across five contrasting soil substrates. Substrate type and fertiliser rate emerged as dominant drivers of dry matter yield, whilst the biostimulant showed no statistically significant effect on yield at 75% fertiliser application, though leaf development indicators were significantly elevated across all biostimulant variants compared to unfertilised controls. Multivariate analysis revealed that substrate composition determines the primary structure of the substrate–plant system, with biostimulant effects—where substrate-specific responses were detected—representing modulation of existing processes rather than broad yield enhancement.
UK applicability
The findings on substrate-dependent biostimulant responses may have limited direct applicability to UK horticultural practice, as the trial focused on Baltic Sea algal species and Baltic soil conditions; however, the methodological approach and the cautionary finding that biostimulants alone cannot reliably substitute for mineral fertiliser reduction could inform UK horticulture trials and policy on biostimulant efficacy claims. UK growers considering algal biostimulants should recognise that soil type significantly modulates any response.
Key measures
Dry matter yield; leaf development indicator (AtLeaf index); substrate type (sandy clay, sandy clay with organic matter, sand, sand with organic matter, peat); biostimulant concentrations (3%, 6%, 12%); fertiliser application rates (75% and 100% of full rate); linear mixed models; principal component analysis; redundancy analysis
Outcomes reported
The study measured dry matter yield and plant development indicators (leaf area index) of garden radish across five soil substrate types treated with anaerobically fermented Furcellaria lumbricalis biostimulant at varying concentrations combined with 75% mineral fertiliser rates. No statistically significant effect on dry matter yield was observed from biostimulant application, though substrate type and fertiliser rate significantly influenced yield.
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