Effect of seaweed extracts on growth and yield of rice plants

Abstract

Sunarpi, Jupri A, Kurnianingsih R, Julisaniah NI, Nikmatullah A 2011. Effect of seaweed extracts on growth and yield of rice plants. Application of liquid seaweed fertilizers on some plant specieshas been reported to decrease application doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on some crop plants, as well as stimulating growth and production of many plants. It has been reported that there are at least 59 species of seaweeds found in coastal zone of West Nusa Tenggara Province, 15 of those species weres able to stimulate germination, growth and production of some horticultural and legume plants. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of seaweed extracts obtained from ten species on growth and. production of rice plants. To achive the goal, seaweed (100 g per species) wasextracted with 100 mL of water, to obtain the concentration of 100%. Seaweed extract (15%) was sprayed into the rice plants during vegetative and generative stages. Subsequently, the growth and yield parameters of rice plants were measured. The results shown that extracts of Sargassum sp.1, Sargassum sp.2, Sargassum polycistum, Hydroclathrus sp., Turbinaria ornata, and Turbinaria murayana, were able to induce growth of rice plants. However, only the Hydroclathrus sp. extract could enhance both growth and production of rice plants.