The role of natural biostimulants in climate-smart agriculture: Ascophyllum nodosum’s impact on alfalfa yield
2025
Sekulić, Zoran | Đurović, Sanja | Pisinov, Boris | Stamenić, Tamara | Petričević, Maja | Radojičić, Maša | Keškić, Tanja
In the context of growing challenges posed by climate change, sustainable agriculture increasingly recognizes the importance of biostimulants derived from natural bioactive molecules, which offer an ecological alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The significant variability in bioactive compounds and sources of biostimulants highlights a broad spectrum of potential solutions for improving crop yields and enhancing plant stress tolerance, particularly in response to climate-induced stresses such as drought and temperature extremes. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Ascophyllum nodosum liquid extract as a biostimulant in promoting the growth and yield of the hybrid alfalfa variety Banat VS during its first year of vegetation. The experiment was conducted under the agroecological conditions of the Banat region in the eastern part of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. Alfalfa seeds were treated by irrigation with liquid seaweed extract, and their effect on yield was assessed after three harvests. The average mass of treated plants was 19.82 g, representing a 4.6% increase compared to the control group (18.95 g). In addition to quantitative results, treated plants demonstrated an accelerated flowering phase and a higher percentage of inflorescences compared to control samples. The application of Ascophyllum nodosum-based biostimulant significantly enhanced the vegetative growth and yield of alfalfa, confirming its potential in sustainable agriculture. These findings highlight the efficacy of biostimulants in stimulating plant growth, particularly under challenging growth conditions that may become more frequent due to climate variability.
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