Comprehensive benefits. Cover your bases! Unlike competing products, with just a few applications of Kelp Sea Life you may provide multiple levels of potential benefits. These potential benefits have been identified during seaweed research over several decades including:

Increased crop yield, produce/plant quality; increased resistance to disease, insects, and stress; speeds germination and root growth; and sprayed just prior to harvest - increased shelf life!

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS OF SEAWEED RESEARCH

(from, Seaweed and Plant Growth, T.L. Senn, Ph.D.)
The following highlights do not, by any means, represent the entire body of evidence supporting the use of seaweed in agriculture. Research involving the use of seaweed in the agricultural industry has been conducted for decades, and will no doubt continue in the future as scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of seaweed.

General
Seaweed has been used by plant growers for centuries, but the reason for beneficial results has only recently been attributed to the naturally occurring growth regulators and micronutrients in the seaweed. After many years of university and private research it has now been established that ...brown seaweeds... contain many naturally occurring plant growth regulators, namely cytokinins, gibberellins, and indoles. In addition, it contains essential micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, boron, manganese, and cobalt for healthy plant growth and development. Many seaweed products also contain a chelating compound known as mannitol, which chelates micronutrients into forms that are readily available for plant use. 5-2

...Seaweed extract assists the lettuce plants to more efficiently utilize the major elements present in the soil. 7-5

The Good Book says that man can not live by bread alone, likewise plants cannot live by NPK alone, both need balanced nutrition. Biological farming helps the grower to have balanced nutrition available for his plants. Seaweed supplies the plant with growth regulators and micronutrients not available otherwise. 10-3

Seeds Many researchers have reported speeding up seed germination by applications of seaweed extract. Seed treated with seaweed extracts respire much faster and will germinate sooner than non-treated seed 4-3 The following seeds: zinnia, tobacco, peas, turnips, tomato, radish, cotton, white pine, loblolly pine, Ligustrum, nandina, and American holly all demonstrated increased respiratory activity and increased germination percentage when treated with seaweed extracts at concentrations between 1 - 25 and 1 - 50 parts water. 4-4 Tests evaluating seaweed extract as a pre-germinating medium for onion seeds demonstrated an increase in germination as well as consistent radicle length. 4-8 Soaking beet seed in seaweed extracts for 30 minutes prior to germination increased the germination of beet seed by 25% over the control..........4-4 Seaweed extracts contain many gibberellins and cytokinins which have been demonstrated to speed up germination. 10-5 At the end of one week the germination of the of the (seaweed extract) treated seed was 84% as (beet) compared to 0% for the checks. 9-3

Root Growth
Young, working at the University in Melbourne, Australia, found that regular use of seaweed extracts as foliar spray or as a soil feed encouraged root development in the following crop plants: wheat, sunflowers, beans, corn, peas and grasses. Other plant studies have reported similar results.

Cytokinins can have a direct bearing on admission of nutrient elements into the roots of plants. .... It may be simply pointed out that concentrations of cytokinins in the roots of plants accelerates the admission of nitrates, phosphorus, potassium and calcium into the plant roots. 4-9

Many investigations have shown that the application of growth regulators promotes the development of roots. These materials not only speed up the healing of cut surfaces, but they also induce the development of a large number of roots. 8-4

Young..... Found that regular use of seaweed extracts as a foliar spray or as a soil feed encouraged root development in the following crop plants: wheat, sunflowers, beans, corn, peas, and grasses. 10-6

Featonby-Smith reported that tomato root growth was significantly improved whenever seaweed concentrate was applied........... 10-6

Derting found that dips of cutting in seaweed extract solution increased the rooting percentage of Rhododendron maximum and Ilex crenata Rotundifolia. 10-6

Flowering The ultimate goal in crop production is maturity, whether it is for vegetative parts - Irish potato, sweet potato, lettuce, alfalfa, or for flowers as in floricultural crops - roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, or for seeds such as corn, wheat, beans, peas. Research has been conducted on a wide variety of plants which have proven increased fruit set. The stamin contains the male organs which shed pollen grains. These grains germinate on the stigma. .....Pollen germination is stimulated by certain nutrient substances, these include manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium, iron, boron and some organic substances....the grower should anticipate plant maturity and spray the plants prior to bloom with plant growth regulators to ensure a healthy, viable plant at this time. 4-1 Seaweed extracts are known to delay senescence(aging) in plant organs. 10-22

Shelf Life
Research has shown that applications of seaweed extracts to various fruits and vegetables prolongs their shelf life. Furthermore, no preservatives at the salad bar are needed. 1-2

Reports have been made that seaweed applications have prolonged shelf life of fruits and vegetables as much as 14 - 21 days and provided resistance to softening and rotting. 3-6

Peaches were sprayed with seaweed before harvest and comparable lots of untreated fruit were held in the laboratory and examined daily until 3 weeks after their harvest. At the end of this period, 3 times as many untreated fruit had deteriorated as treated fruit. 10-18

Micronutrients
...when seaweed extracts are used at the recommended times and rates it will supply the amounts of iron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, boron, manganese, and magnesium that most crops require.

Seaweeds contain more than 70 microelements. 3-4

Micronutrients serve as starters - catalysts that activate enzymes. 5-2

Reports that seaweed releases unavailable minerals from the soil have been made. 3-5

The micronutrients in seaweed or in chelated form and seaweed containing mannitol aids in additional chelation. 11-4

Insect and Disease Resistance
Seaweed applications produce the following effects upon the incidence of Fusarium roseum tricinctum and nematode populations in Kentucky Bluegrass turf: 98% reduction in the population of Paratylenchus spp. pin nematodes; 48% reduction in F. Roseum. 3-14 Booth sums up the situation by saying: Taking the situation as a whole, there is experimental evidence to show that liquid seaweed products, trace elements, and growth retardance have an adverse effect on insects. There are also practical experiences with seaweed products and suggestions, from spraying contractors that a mixture of liquified seaweed and insecticide is more efficacious than the insecticide alone. 10-15

......Senn observed reduction in aphid and flea-beetle populations on plants that had been sprayed with seaweed extracts. 10-14

.......seaweed extract applied as a foliar spray on apples appears to suppress ......mites high capacity for reproduction. 10-15

Increased resistance to fungal diseases by plants treated with seaweed extracts has been widely reported by grower field observations. Many instances are reported in the scientific literature. 10- 10

.....tomato roots and okra roots grown in seaweed extract treated plots had fewer nematode infestations than comparable roots from the control plots. 10-16 Seaweed contains antibiotics including bromphenols, tanning, phloroblucinol, and terpenoids. 10- 17 Researchers investigating the enhancement of herbicidal effect of seaweed extracts, reported that "the results indicate that a combination of seaweed extract with a herbicide can have beneficial effects in terms of both weed kill and protection of the crop damage by the herbicide........" 10-32 Senn observed that seaweed concentrate applied to cantaloupe plants reduced the severity of powdery mildew on leaves. 12-4

Stress Resistance
Numerous investigators ...... Have reported for the effects of growth regulators on the ability of plant systems to withstand changes in temperature. 10-11

(Seaweed concentrate) applied to grapevines ...... As a foliar spray at bud burst and then with subsequent routine sprays .....results in: increase fruit set particularly under adverse climatic conditions; more open bunches, which allows more even development of the fruit and assists in the control of Botrytis. 10-8

Stress periods occurring prior to and during formation of buds, root hairs, tubers, flowers, and in fruit development and maturity, senescence, dormancy of buds of seeds, and germinating of seeds are periods of great growth regulator activity. 8-1

...A prime reason for using seaweed is to help overcome stress problems. 10-3

(A major) stress period occurs when the plant is changing from a vegetative to a reproductive plant. Prior to this change or prior to blooming is an ideal time to apply foliar applications of seaweed extract. 9-7

Seaweed extract treatment may be expected to increase plant growth, even when the plant is under nutrient stress. It has frequently been reported that plants treated with various plant growth regulators were less susceptible to environmental stress conditions such as water (drought), temperature (frost), and diseases. 9-6

...starter solutions and seaweed adjacent to roots in the soil are very beneficial to the plant during (germination). 9-3

Scientists at the Newton Research Laboratories in Australia reported that seaweed extracts increase the drought resistance of plants under stress.... Seaweed extracts evidently aid in changes in the metabolic pathways thereby permitting the roots access of extremely low moisture levels which during a drought are not normally available to plants. 9-6

Applications of seaweed extract during early drought periods aide plants to live through this stress period. One of the first results of drought - wilting of plants - is a decrease in growth promoters and an increase in growth retardants. 9-5

Yield and Quality
Increases were obtained in root weight, root sugar content and in clarified juice purity. 3-8 ...significant increase in yield of potatoes. 3-8

Foliar applications of seaweed concentrate on swiss chard plants significantly improved the growth irrespective of whether it was applied on its own as a foliar spray or together with soil applications of a chemical fertilizer. 5-3

It was reported by Weidman and Stang that "the ability of cytokinin to induce growth and development in latent buds and to stimulate cell division offers exciting possibilities for strawberry production." 5-3

Seaweed extracts applied to lettuce plants produced an increase in the weight, and mean heart diameter. In the case of cauliflower, seaweed extract application led to a significant increase incurd diameter. Seaweed extract applied to tomato plants improved the growth significantly. Irrespective of whether it was applied as a foliar spray at regular intervals or whether the soil in which the tomatoes were planted was flushed once with the diluted seaweed concentrate. 5-4

Many trials and experiments have been conducted in the past, the results of which have shown that seaweed extracts are responsible for increased crop yields, quality and shelf life. Utilization methods and instrumentation currently available to researchers, the reasons why marine-algae- seaweed extracts are beneficial are being revealed. 5-4


Cut flower production (long stem roses) increase by 32%. 5-5

Cotton yield up to 29% due to increase boll number per unit per area. 5-5

Seaweed appeared to significantly affect the quality of tomatoes in terms of better looking fruits with less deformation including increasing the ripening and maturing rate. 5-5

There are numerous additional research reports that various seaweed extracts are contributors to increased crop yields including: citrus, sweet potatoes, apples, strawberries, potatoes, and clover. 5-5

When cytokinins are applied to leaves, these treated leaves remain green longer due to a slower rate of degradative processes and syntheses are stimulated. In other words, the treated leaves are rejuvenated and manufacture foods for a longer period of time. 8-3

Use of seaweed extracts on apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums in several Australian states at full bloom has consistently increased the effective fruit set, and has improved the appearance of the fruit. 10-7

.....seaweed concentrate.......improve the growth of tomato plants significantly 10-16

Water sprays of a seaweed concentrate in weekly intervals.......applied at the time of the fruiting of cucumbers distinctly increased the yields of fruits by 41.8%. 12-3

"Preliminary prairie yield trials with seaweed extracts applied at an early stage of crop development, appear to indicate that substantial yield gains of cereal crops and canola can be obtained under extremely stressful environmental conditions ( drought). These results are in agreement with data obtained elsewhere and are in support of the observation that the application of seaweed extracts in agriculture, may represent a considerable advancement towards improving crop yields. The 1985 prairie trials which showed high yield increases in cereal crops (in some cases up to 44%) to be solely due to the application of seaweed extract, may serve as an indication of the pivotal importance of this compound for the survival of Canadian agriculture." Dr. Wayne Temple, University of British Columbia ......results of these field trials (seaweed spray) demonstrated substantial increases (¸25%) in marketable bean yields. Dr. Wayne Temple, University of British Columbia

Tree and Shrub Transplanting
The roots of trees or shrubs are dipped in seaweed solutions. After allowing the excess solution to drain away the plants may be stored or planted. These formulations are widely used in Europe with great success. 12-2

Hydro-Seeding
Seaweed components contain sodium alginates and alginic acid, both of which improve water holding capacities. The seaweed water soluble materials contain growth promoting substances as well as a large number of micronutrients which correct soil nutrient deficiencies as well as increase the formation of humus. 12-12