Effects of seaweed concentrate on grain yield in barley

Abstract

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Clipper) was grown in pots in a growth chamber providing 12-h photoperiods and diurnal temperatures of 17/10 °C. Seaweed concentrate was applied as a foliar spray and soil drench at dilutions of 1:250 and 1:500 two weeks after seedling emergence and as a seed dip (1:250) prior to planting. Grain mass per plant was increased in the order of 50% irrespective of the concentration of seaweed concentrate applied or whether applied as a foliar spray or soil drench. The increase was largely due to a greater number of fertile spikelets per ear. The total nitrogen content of the seed produced by seaweed-treated plants remained within the parameters laid down by the malting industry. Gars (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Clipper) is in potte in ’n groeikamer met ’n ligperiode van 12 uur en ’n dag/nag-temperatuur van 17/10 °C gekweek. Seewierkonsentraat is aangewend as ’n blaarbespuiting en grondbenatting by verdunnings van 1:250 en 1:500 twee weke na saailingverskyning en as ’n saad-dompeling (1:250) voor planting. Graanopbrengs per plant is in die omgewing van 50% verhoog ongeag van die konsentrasie en of seewier konsentraat as ’n grondbenatting of blaarbespuiting aangewend is. Hierdie verhoging was grootliks toe te skryf aan ’n groter aantal vrugbare blompakkies per aar. Die stikstofgehalte van die graankorrels van seewierbehandelde plante was binne die perke wat deur die bierbrouersindustrie vereis word.