CRC Press Seaweeds as Plant Fertilizer, Agricultural Biostimulants and Animal Fodder

The main effects of Seaweed extracts (Ascophyllum, Fucus, Sargassum, Saccorhiza, Laminaria, Gelidium and others), when used as agricultural fertilizers, are better seed germination and higher quality fruit production, with longer shelf life; better use of soil nutrients; more productive crops and plants with greater resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions. Algae also have a long history of use as animal feed. They have a highly variable composition depending on the species, collection season and habitat, and on external conditions such as water temperature, light intensity and nutrient concentration in water. In relation to ruminal fermentation, a high variability of the digestibility values was found among seaweed species and cannot be attributed only to the composition of different nutrients of the algae. The role of marine algae for reduction of methane production is discussed with particular emphasis on novel algae-based feed strategies that target minimal methane emissions without affecting the functionality of the microbiota and overall animal productivity. Key Features: Sustainable Agriculture Natural Feeding Nutrients Liquid Seaweed Agricultural Biostimulants Natural Pesticides About the Author Leonel Pereira has a degree in Biology (scientific branch) and a PhD in Biology (Cell Biology specialty) from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (Portugal), where he is currently Professor. In addition to teaching at this university, he is also an Investigator in the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre. His interests are mainly focused on marine biodiversity (algae), marine biotechnology (bioactive compounds of macroalgae) and marine ecology (environmental assessment). Since 2008, he has been the author and editor of the electronic publication MACOI―Portuguese Seaweeds Website (www.uc.pt/seaweeds). He has authored more than 20 books and book chapters, has published more than 40 scientific articles in international journals, and is the editor of 5 books published by international publishers, and he has presented more than a hundred lectures and oral communications in various national and international scientific events. He received the Francisco de Holanda Prize (Honorable Mention) in 1998 and, more recently, the King D. Carlos Award (18th edition), and the CHOICE Award 2016 for Outstanding Academic Title: Edible Seaweeds of the World, CRC Press. Kiril Bahcevandziev has a degree in Agriculture (S.S. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, FYR of Macedonia, 1984), a master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering (University of Lisbon, 1992), and a PhD in Agricultural Engineering (University of Lisbon, 2003). He is a member of the Portuguese Society for Plant Physiology, European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), International Society for Horticultural Science, American Society for Horticultural Science, and Portuguese Society for Horticulture. He is also member of the Editorial Board of University Bulletins and Reviewer of the Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Plant Cell, Tissue & Organ Culture, Plant Biotechnology Journal, World Journal of Agricultural Research, and African Journal of Plant Science. Nilesh H. Joshi is Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Marine Science: Research & Development and Journal of Marine Biology & Oceanography. He is a life member of the Seaweed Research and Utilization Association of India and of the Marine Biological Association of India, and a member of the Indian Science Congress, Kolkata.