Brown Algae (Sargassum sp.

) as Biofertilizer in
Hydroponics

Francis Erluph B. Cabanting, Arielle R. Alamani*, Reign C. Bernardo and Articus Filipe E.
Tolentino
Taft Ave. cor. Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila
*E-mail: eryelmermeyd@gmail.com

Abstract

Macroalga has recently been given focus on the aspect of agriculture. Namely as
plant supplements, as to this, most were used in cosmetics pharmaceuticals, food and
other industries, this research intends to leap through the limitations of the seaweed by
providing high quality produce of vegetables that may help countries with dry and rare
seasonal rains have a higher production rate in plant production. The researchers intend
that the seaweed will be made into coarse powder and different amount of powder will
be added to distilled water to obtain different kinds of concentration that will be
suitable for the correct growth for a specific type of plant.

Keywords: seaweed liquid fertilizer, bio-fertilizer, macroalgae, brown algae,

hydroponics

I. INTRODUCTION
The research research involves the usage
of brown algae (Sargassum sp.) which is
used in different sector or cosmetics and
drug cure. The researchers observed
problems in our community that the
standard in producing goods that involve
plant and fruits are low compared to
international standards, which is why we
don’t have much goods to raise and sell in
the global market. Seaweed or brown
algae, which is clearly abundant in the
Philippines because we are surrounded by
large bodies of water that contributes to
the thriving aquatic organisms. Brown
algae in general has high amounts of
cytokinins which is a plant hormone thag
promotes cell division and plant
development, making it a candidate for
agricultural uses. Such problems in
society such as the low nutrient value of
soil across the NCR region that only germinated plant to be
hydroponics can solve as it is a process transported rather than
that excludes soil in growing a plant. directly grown
Different and random patterns of storms
2.3. Extraction of Brown
and typhoons are also a big concern as
Algae Seaweed
these affect the 6.8% GDP contribution of
agriculture plus over 71 billion pesos are 2.3.1. A kilogram of
lost due to the weather's havoc on brown algae was cut into
farmers' produce (Torres,Ted P., small pieces and was
“Philippines risks huge agri losses over autoclaved for 1 hour after
climate change”, Philstar, October cutting. The use of autoclave
23,2015 ) is to get the necessary parts of
the algae, such as its
II. METHODOLOGY
cytokinins.
2.1. Gathering of Material
2.3.2. The extract was
2.1.1. A kilogram of brown filtered in double-layered
algae (Sargassum sp.) was cheese cloth and will be
obtained in SEAFDEC (Southeast cooled down in room
Asian Fisheries Development temperature.
Center) in Quezon City. These
2.3.3. The filtrate was
were thoroughly cleansed using
centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for
both seawater and tap water.
30 minutes at 4EC.
2.1.2. A single pack of pechay Centrifuging is done to
seeds was bought from DENR separate the needed
(Department of Environment and substances from the rest of the
Natural Resources) autoclaved algae. This
process will be done in
2.1.3. One bottle of a local
SEAFDEC branch in Rizal
hydroponics nutrient solution,
SNAP (Simply Nutrition Solution 2.4. Phytochemical Analysis
Program), was bought for usage. of the Browm Algae Extract
2.1.4. One kilogram of 2.4.1. The brown algae
Vermicast was used as the growth extract was tested for its
medium. The vermicast was biofertilizer properties in the
obtained from a stored located at Pharmaceutical Section of
the back of the Divisoria Mall DOST (Department of
Science and Technology)
2.2. Planting of Pechay
2.5. Set-up for the
2.2.1. Five seeds were
Hydroponic Farming
planted traditionally, with
soil, ahead of time. The reason 2.5.1. Criteria for a
is that hydrophonics requires a suitable environment involves
 a wide space, a controlled 70% brown algae extract solution
temperature, in this case and 30% water, E2 has 50%
warm, and a protected and extract solution and 50% water,
safe area and E3 has 30% extract solution
and 70%water.
2.5.2. A portable
hydroponics garden was used Table 1
for the set-up. The portable
garden was bought from In table 1, theres a
Robinsons significant lead in C1's height as
per the rest of the set-ups, C2
2.5.3 The portabke garden remains to be at last with a
been placed, the kilogram of rather stunted growth, E2 has the
vermicast was loaded into the tallest height with 3.6 inches
plots, and the four germinated among the rest of the variable
plants was transported into the setups. All of the plants grew in
almost the exact time with little
growth tray, while the last
difference, C1 remained in the
plant remained.
soil throughout the experiment.
2.5.4 After transporting the (Nut. Values). In the whole
plants and the reservoir was experiment pechay grown
filled with varying solutions
Growth
2.5.5. Three of the plants Growth
Plant Time in
will receive brown algae Set up Time in
Height Hydroponic
extract concentrations of soil
Garden
30%, 50%, and 70%, the
fourth one will receive SNAP C1 4 inches 14 days 0 day
concentration of 50%, this
plant and the one grown in the C2 2 inches 14 days 5 days
soil will serve as the
controlled setup. E1 3.3 inches 14 days 5 days

III. RESULTS AND E2 3.6 inches 14 days 5 days

DISCUSSION
The following shows the results
of the five set-ups in our pre-
determined parameters. Set Ups
C1 and C2 are the controlled set-
ups, C1 has a pechay grown in
the traditional way with soil, C2
has a pechay accompanied with a
mixture of 50% SNAP Solution
and 50% water. E1, E2, and E3
are the set-ups with the brown
algae extract solution. E1 has
E3 3.5 inches 14 days 5 days
traditionally still had a better
result, yet this was performed in
an area with low air pollution,
more data is needed to assure the
survival of the traditional
Pechay on a city such as Manila,
taking in account the soil's
health and air's cleanliness

CONCLUSIONS
The results given shows that the
brown algae extract is more
efficient to than the snap in
terms of plant growth, but not
more than the traditional way.
The researchers therefore
conclude that the brown algae
extract is an effective bio
fertilizer.
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