Green Biostimulant from Hydrolysis of Kappaphycus alvarezii Seaweed for Growth and Crop Yield Improvement of Hybrid Maize

In this project, a seaweed extract-based biostimulants that are rich in oligocarrageenans (OCs) was introduced. It was produced via direct hydrolysis of Kappaphycus averazii biomass in ascorbic acid. Two hydrolysates products, contains OCs with distinct molecular weight varied by different reaction time, were foliar sprayed on maize field at different dosages; and the optimal treatment gave significant increases in the plant nutrient uptakes, plant height (by ~20.6%), and grain yield (by ~21%) over the control. We consider the possibility of hydrolysates usage as an effective biostimulant to reduce fertilizers in agriculture. 

The project was granted by The Tay Nguyen 3 Program  which is a national Science and Technology program for Tay Nguyen socio – economic development (2011 – 2015)

(http://www.vast.ac.vn/en/science-and-technology-research-projects?start=400?option=com_detai&view=detai&id=1078)