Objective
This is a vertically integrated project based on precompetitive biochemical R&D with complementary evaluation trials aimed at creating a more effective organic liquid fertilizer, recognising the environmental problems created by intensive farming practices.
Laboratory scale processing produced the first blended extract which was delivered for growing trials. These trials included arable crops, field vegetables and protected crops. A parallel set of user trials being carried out by commercial growers is also evaluating the extract on a range of crops under organic and conventional husbandry.
The process engineering work is continuing to develop a pilot scale production plant and to provide 3 different formulations to the partners for evaluation. These trials use a variety of soil types where the history of cultivation is known and the timing and rate of application of the foliar spray are controlled as part of the experiments. The trial results have been mixed, as expected.
The use of seaweed as foliar spray is believed to reduce the need for solid inorganic fertilisers, increasing nutrient uptake and increasing yield. The use of seaweed based growth enhancers offers a way of reducing water pollution. Other claims for liquid seaweed sprays include increased frost, fungal and pest resistance, better seed germination and deeper plant root development.
The Test Centre has concentrated on developing an extraction method which can accept both the Laminaria hyperborea and Ascophyllum nodosum. A number of processes have been tried and evaluated. Several methods have been considered and tried at laboratory scale (maceration/pressing, hot leaching and homogenization).The extract has been produced on a small batch basis to several different specifications. The practical problems have been identified and work is continuing to develop an optimised process suitable to the different characteristics of the 2 seaweeds. Following the initial laboratory scale trials, development work is now concentrating on the design of a pilot scale plant to allow larger batch production, more representative of a manufacturing process, albeit still at a precompetitive level.
The use of seaweed as foliar spray is believed to reduce the need for solid inorganic fertilisers, increasing nutrient uptake and increasing yield. The use of seaweed based growth enhancers offers a way of reducing water pollution. Other claims for liquid seaweed sprays include increased frost, fungal and pest resistance, better seed germination and deeper plant root development.
Farm Future has initiated a programme of user trials with commercial farmers and growers over a range of soils, crops and altitude/climate factors. The types of husbandry practice include organic, biodynamic and conventional. Trial crops include field vegetables, arable crops and organic plant propagation.
The use of seaweed as foliar spray is believed to reduce the need for solid inorganic fertilisers, increasing nutrient uptake and increasing yield. The use of seaweed based growth enhancers offers a way of reducing water pollution. Other claims for liquid seaweed sprays include increased frost, fungal and pest resistance, better seed germination and deeper plant root development.
A seaweed survey has been regularly undertaken around Orkney waters by IOE. The collected samples have been analyzed for chemical composition. In parallel with this the seaweed extract from the precess work ha been tested for natural growth promoting substances. The seasonal changes in the plant chemistry and the consequent variations in extract composition are being studied. Bioassays are being developed to measure cytokinin level on a regular basis. The seaweed extract which is being developed is to be an organically acceptable material, suitable for organic, biodynamic and conventional husbandries. The choice of possible additives is being considered in order to maintain a consistent product irrespective of the fluctuating chemistry of the raw seaweed. Preparations have been made for pot trials and field trials. The initial trials used lettuce and leek in pot experiments and potato in field experiments. Preparations for these trials have included choosing the most appropriate types of pots and a range of soil types.
The use of seaweed extracts as fertilizers has been shown to have beneficial effects when used in agriculture. Several processing techniques employed in Europe use storm cast seaweed, which has leached the majority of vital growth promoting agents present in the living algae. Some seaweed extracts are produced from this poor and highly variable raw material by harsh chemical extraction processes. These factors are believed to be the main reason for many of the conflicting results obtained from field trials.
To produce liquid fertilizer involves conditioning, extraction and transformation. This project will exploit the chemical constituents available in seaweeds by developing a process which retains the natural growth hormones and trace elements, so producing a high quality liquid material intended for widespread use in all agriculture and horticulture applications throughout the Community, with consequent environmental benefits.
The use of seaweed as foliar spray is believed to reduce the need for solid inorganic fertilizers, increasing both nutrient uptake and yield. The use of seaweed based growth enhancers offers a way of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, so decreasing nitrate and phosphate inputs into the soil and reducing water pollution. Other claims for liquid seaweed sprays include increased frost, fungal and pest resistance, better seed germination and deeper plant root development.
The object of the evaluation trials is to investigate these claims, to quantify the added value resulting from use of the liquid growth enhancer and to measure the beneficial environmental effects resulting from the reduced need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The trials will investigate applications in arable and protected crops and grazing land, in intensive conventional farming and in biodynamic organic growing in Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK. Collaboration and feedback will help to determine the optimum composition of the seaweed based growth enhancer.
Comparative leaching studies will examine the chemical composition of liquid run-off from different types of soil treated with solid inorganic fertilizers or liquid seaweed. Large scale modelling will recreate the soil and plant system within a controlled environment allowing experimental analysis.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture vegetable growing
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
EH14 4AS Edinburgh
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.