Green seaweed extract and brown seaweed extract are two different types of seaweed extracts, which are often used in agriculture as plant growth promoters or biofertilizers. The main differences between them are the types of seaweed from which they come, the nutrients they contain, and the application effects:
1. Source and extraction
Green seaweed extract:
Main source: common green algae plants such as Chlorella and Spirulina. These algae mainly live in freshwater environments.
Extraction process: The nutrients in the cells are extracted through mechanical wall breaking or enzymatic hydrolysis to produce high-concentration green seaweed extract.
Brown seaweed extract:
Main source: brown algae plants such as Laminaria, Macrocystis, Undaria pinnatifida, etc. Brown algae are mainly distributed in the ocean.
Extraction process: Alkaline extraction or acid extraction methods are usually used to extract components such as polysaccharides, minerals and plant hormones from brown algae.
2. Component Analysis
Green seaweed essence:
Main ingredients: Contains high concentrations of chlorophyll, protein, amino acids, vitamin B group, antioxidants (such as β-carotene), and a small amount of minerals (such as iron and magnesium).
Special ingredients: The chlorophyll content in green algae is high, which helps to improve the photosynthesis efficiency of plants.
Brown seaweed extract:
Main ingredients: Rich in alginate, fucoidan, alginic acid, minerals (such as iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium), and plant hormones (such as cytokinin, melatonin, ethylene).
Special ingredients: Fucoidan and alginate in brown algae have strong water retention and soil structure improvement effects.
3. Functions and applications
Green seaweed extract:
- Promote photosynthesis: High content of chlorophyll can enhance plant photosynthesis, suitable for green leafy vegetables and crops with high photosynthetic activity.
- Adversity resistance: Contains a variety of antioxidants, which can enhance the resistance of plants to adverse environmental conditions such as drought, cold, and disease.
- Improve nutritional value: Rich in amino acids and vitamin B group, it can improve the nutritional content and taste quality of crops.
Brown seaweed extract:
- Promote root development: Plant hormones such as cytokinin can promote the development of the root system and improve the water and fertilizer absorption capacity of plants.
- Increase yield and quality: Alginate and fucoidan can improve soil structure and improve soil water retention, thereby increasing crop yield and quality.
- Soil improvement: The polysaccharides and minerals in brown seaweed essence help improve soil, enhance soil permeability and fertility. And they are suitable for long-term use to improve poor soil.
4. Applicable crops and scenarios
Green seaweed extract:
Applicable crops: leafy vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce), fruits and vegetables (such as tomatoes, cucumbers), tea and other plants that need to increase chlorophyll content.
Use scenarios: Mainly used to promote leaf growth, improve photosynthesis, and enhance stress resistance.
Brown seaweed extract:
Applicable crops: cereals (such as rice, wheat), fruit trees (such as apples, citrus), root crops (such as potatoes, carrots), and crops that need soil improvement.
Use scenarios: used to promote root development, increase crop yields, and improve soil conditions.
5. Usage and effects
Green seaweed extract:
Application method: usually foliar spraying to improve the absorption efficiency of plants.
Effect: It works quickly, especially in the period when crops need to improve photosynthesis, it can quickly enhance leaf vitality.
Brown seaweed extract:
Application method: Foliar spraying, soil fertilization or root irrigation.
Effect: It has a long-term effect, especially in soil improvement and root promotion.
In summary, green seaweed extract is more suitable for improving photosynthesis and enhancing leaf vitality. While brown seaweed essence focuses more on soil improvement, root development and overall crop quality.
