Seaweed Extract for Sustainable Rice Production- A Review

Seaweed extract is a bio-simulant that obtain from seaweeds like Agar, and Alginate and many more species of seaweed. By application of seaweed extract in rice crop (Oryza sativa L.) can increase the growth, grain yield, biological yield and improves the nutrient content in grain. Seaweed extract application also reduces the biotic and abiotic stress on crops. This seaweed extract can be applied in many ways to crop plants like foliar spray, soil incorporation, etc., based on crop type. It can impact the cellular respiration of plants and incorporates many enzymes like NAA, auxins, vitamins, cytokinin’s and many other growths promoting hormones in plants. This extract also has growth stimulating properties. It can increase nutrient absorption capacity by increasing root growth. Most of the marine algae are rich in auxins that increase root growth. The application of seaweed extract in soil can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. It can improve Arbuscular mycorrhiza by providing potassium to plant. Application of seaweed extract to soil can improve the availability of nutrients like calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Moreover, foliar spray of seaweed extract in rice crop increases crop growth, yield, nutrient uptake, water uptake, increases photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance. So, seaweed extract incorporation in rice cultivation could be a better approach to gain long-term sustainable production.