Sargassum sp. as a biofertilizer: is it really a key towards sustainable agriculture for The Bahamas?

Bulletin of the National Research Centre

Research

Joseph Ferguson¹  Shonnel Wallace²  Williamson Gustave²  Danica Stubbs²  Clare Bowen-O’Connor²  Aaliyah Adderley²  Carlton Watson³ 

[1] School of Mathematics and Technology, University of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas;The School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas;The School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas;Small Island Sustainability, University of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas;

关键词: Alkaline soil;    Microalgal biofertilizer;    Sargassum;    Tomato cultivation;    Soil nutrients;    Long Island, Bahamas;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s42269-023-01087-w

 received in 2023-03-05, accepted in 2023-07-17,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMacroalgae blooms (Sargassum sp.) occur annually in The Bahamas due to the integration of various events related to human intercession with the roles of algae in biogeochemical cycles. These blooms are of great concern, as they are associated with many negative effects; thus, the primary aims of this study were to assess the quality of soils collected from South, Central, and North Long Island, and to determine whether Sargassum sp. can be used as a biofertilizer for soils on Long Island. A 60-day pot trial method was established to determine the efficacy of different concentrations (1%, 5%, and 10%) of Sargassum sp. as a biofertilizer on cherry tomato cultivation. Additionally, the soil quality before and after fertilizer amendment was evaluated.ResultsThe results show that Sargassum sp. increased nutrient content of the soil, specifically nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus; however, plant growth performance parameters (plant height, leaf number, bud number, flower number, and root and shoot weights) were negatively affected.ConclusionsDue to the obtained results, it is recommended that serious consideration be taken when utilizing Sargassum sp. as a biofertilizer because the pH and type of soil in Long Island, Bahamas, affects the bioavailability of the nutrients released from the algae.Graphical abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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