Summary
This laboratory study compared two water-based extraction methods (boiling and soaking) for producing biostimulants from Baltic seaweeds, characterising their chemical composition and bioactivity. Germination trials on cress (Lepidium sativum) demonstrated that seaweed extract treatments enhanced plant length, mineral accumulation, and chlorophyll synthesis, with the 10% boiled extract increasing plant length by 13% and the 0.5% soaked extract increasing chlorophyll content 2.5-fold relative to controls.
Regional applicability
The study does not identify its geographic origin, though it references Baltic seaweeds as the source material. The findings on seaweed biostimulant efficacy are applicable to United Kingdom horticulture, as seaweed extracts are already used in UK organic and regenerative farming systems; however, the transferability of results depends on species composition and local seaweed availability.
Key measures
Polyphenol content; micro- and macroelement concentrations; lipid content; antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; seed germination rate; plant length; leaf elemental content (B, Mo, Zn, Na); chlorophyll content; plant morphology
Outcomes reported
The study compared boiling and soaking methods for extracting aqueous seaweed biostimulants from Baltic seaweeds, characterising their polyphenol, micro- and macroelement, and lipid content, and evaluating their effects on plant germination and growth in Lepidium sativum. Treatments with seaweed extracts produced measurable increases in plant length, elemental accumulation (B, Mo, Zn, Na), and chlorophyll content compared to control plants.
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