Speaker
Description
Recently, microalgae extracts have received greater interest as biostimulants for plant production, and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers in agriculture. Among them, cyanobacteria extracts have shown a number of beneficial effects, such as increased nutrient uptake, tolerance to abiotic stresses and improved crop yield and quality. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the potential of blue-green algae Anabaena cylindrica as a biofertilizer. Microalgae extract was applied as a soil drench, to assess its effect on soil physico-chemical properties. The main objective of the study was to enhance soil fertility. Different concentrations (25%,50%, and 75% v/v) of microalgae extracts were used over a period of 3 months. A total of 12 drenches were applied at 7 days. A statistically significant improvement (P<0.05) of soil physico-chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and calcium.) was recorded after the application of different extract concentrations compared to untreated soils. In general, our results revealed that the 75% aqueous extract exerted the strongest positive effects on the parameters studied. The study also reported presence of sugars, protein, and macronutrients (such as N, P, Ca, Na, and K), in A. cylindrica aqueous extract, which makes it a potential biofertilizer.
