Crop yield responses to seaweed extract-based biostimulants depend on application strategy, formulation, and...

Area of Science:

• Agronomy
• Plant Science
• Marine Biotechnology

Background:

• Seaweed extracts are recognized for their biochemical diversity and potential to enhance plant processes.
• Existing data on seaweed extract yield effects are fragmented across diverse agricultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and analyze global data on seaweed extract impacts on crop yield and biomass.
• To identify factors influencing the efficacy of seaweed-based biostimulants.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of 198 peer-reviewed studies with 2,021 comparisons.
• Log response ratios and random-effects models were used for quantitative analysis.
• Variability was assessed across climate, soil, crop, and application parameters.

Main Results:

• Seaweed extracts increased crop yield by an average of 16.3% globally.
• Positive effects were observed under both stress and non-stress conditions, particularly in tropical/arid regions and for vegetables, legumes, and cereals.
• Soil properties, application timing, formulation, and extraction methods influenced response magnitude.

Conclusions:

• Seaweed extracts provide reproducible yield benefits in agriculture.
• Optimizing application strategies and considering environmental factors can maximize biostimulant effectiveness for sustainable crop production.