IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development| Vol. 5, Issue 09, 2017 | ISSN (online): 2321-0613 All rights reserved by www.ijsrd.com 878 Boon of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer in Agriculture N. Tensingh Baliah Assistant Professor Centre for Research and Post Graduate Studies in Botany Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract— Now-a-days, the synthetic fertilizers are commonly using in agriculture when compared with organic fertilizers. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers are diminishing soil fertility, soil erosion, health threads to human, livestock and also microbial community present in the soil. To overcome this problem and to increase the efficiency of plant cultivation, seaweed extracts can be used as fertilizers in sustainable agriculture. The seaweed liquid fertilizer (SLF) or suspensions or extracts obtained from algae gain a commercial importance and it can be an alternative treatment especially for organic farming. The application of seaweed fertilizers for different crop plants is of great importance to substitute/supplementary to the inorganic fertilizers and to reduce the cost of production. The current research indicates that the extract from seaweeds are found to be supplementary to chemical fertilizer due to high level of organic matter, micro and macro elements, vitamins, fatty acids and growth regulators. Therefore, the usage of SLF can minimize the quantity chemical fertilizers for sustainable yield of various crop plants. Key words: Seaweeds, SLF, Sustainable, Crop Response I. INTRODUCTION In India, the cropping system involves the usage of inorganic and organic fertilizers to improve soil health and soil fertility. However, the mismanagement and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers creates problems in soil fertility and the environment. Currently, there is widespread interest in developing sustainable agricultural systems that are less dependent on external inputs, especially fertilizers and herbicides, to reduce impacts on the environment and conserve and improve soils. The use of agrochemicals has been the main option for increasing agricultural production in world. Fertilizers and pesticides are widely used by farmers in the forested zone where the population density fuels the demand for food. The intensive use of agrochemicals may lead to soil degradation, residues of agrochemicals in crops or groundwater and to negative effects on the health of agricultural workers, especially in intensive commercial horticulture, particularly in vegetable production [1] [2] [3]. A. Seaweeds Seaweeds are marine macro algae and it is a one of the major important marine renewable resource [4]. There are about 9,000 species of macro algae broadly classified into three main groups namely green (Chlorophyceae), brown (Phaeophyceae) and red (Rhodophyceae) based on their pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins. The Indian coast line of about 7500 km long including two groups of Islands harbor around 840 seaweed species, comprised of 68 families and 217 genera, that includes 216 Chlorophyta, 191 Phaeophyta and 434 Rhodophyta species. There are number of localities along the Indian coastline with luxuriant seaweed growth with high species diversity notably Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar groups of Islands [5]. To date, India possesses 434 species of red seaweeds, 194 species of brown seaweeds and 216 species of green seaweeds India and more than 60 species were commercially utilized for agar, carrageenan, algin and pharmaceutical especially in agricultural application for crop developments. Seaweed Mari culture is a significant and profitable livelihood option for the coastal fishing community especially for fisher women, who with little effort can earn a substantial income for the household. The seaweed potential in India was estimated at 1,005,000 tones in six states of India comprising 250,000 tones in Gujarat, 250,000 tones in Tamil Nadu, 100,000 tones in Kerala, 100,000 tones in Andhra Pradesh, 5,000 tones in Maharashtra and 300,000 tones in Andaman and Nicobar Islands [6]. Seaweeds occur in the intertidal, shallow and deep waters of the sea up to 180 m depth and also in estuaries and backwaters. They grow on dead corals, rocks, stones, pebbles, other substrates and as epiphytes on sea grasses. Several species of green, brown and red algae with luxuriant growth occur along the Southern Tamil Nadu Coast from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari covering 21 Islands of Gulf of Mannar. Rich seaweed beds are present at Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam, Visakhapatnam and coastal lakes of Pulicat and Chilka. Seaweeds also occur abundantly in Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. More than 10,000 species of marine algae have been reported all over the world. In India, about 220 genera and 740 species of marine algae were recorded of which 60 species are of economic value. In Mandapam area, 180 species of seaweeds are growing, of which about 40 species are economically important [7]. II. SEAWEED FERTILIZER Seaweed fertilizers are having nitrogen, phosphorus, potash trace elements and metabolites similar to plant growth regulators. The application of seaweed fertilizers for different crops was of great importance to substitute the commercial chemical fertilizers and to reduce the cost of production. Liquid fertilizers derived from seaweeds are found to be superior to chemical fertilizers due to high level of beneficial compounds that useful for plant growth and development [8]. Seaweed fertilizer is a natural bioactive material; water soluble derived from marine macro algae. Seaweed extract is a new generation of natural organic fertilizers containing highly effective nutrients, increased yield, promotes faster generation of seeds and resistant ability of many crops. Seaweed fertilizer could be absorbed by plant