EFFECT OF SEAWEED CONCENTRATE ON HYDROPONICALLY GROWN SPRING BARLEY

Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Triumph) was grown hydroponically over a 6-week period. Two treatments were incorporated either into the hydroponic solution or sprayed onto the plants at rates of 1 ml per 3 litres. The treatments applied were: (i) a seaweed concentrate prepared from Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis (marketed as Maxicrop Triple), (ii) a 'Trace element' treatment incorporating the micro and macro nutrients added to the seaweed extract base to produce the formulated product Maxicrop Triple and (iii) a control treatment. Irrespective of the mode of application, plants treated with Maxicrop Triple grew faster than plants under either of the two other treatments. Elevated growth rates were also found for the 'Trace element' treated plants when incorporated into the hydroponic solution. At the final harvest, plants with Maxicrop Triple incorporated into the hydroponic solution showed increases from 56-63% over the control treatment for the growth characteristics measured. 'Trace element'-treated plants produced increases of between 25-45%. When the treatments were sprayed the effect was less pronounced. Maxicrop Triple increased growth characters by 35-38% and the 'trace element' treatment gave increases in the range of 2-13%.