Green Biostimulant from Hydrolysis of Kappaphycus alvarezii Seaweed for Growth and Crop Yield Improvement of Hybrid Maize

In this project, a seaweed extract-based biostimulants that are rich in oligocarrageenans (OCs) was introduced. It was produced via direct hydrolysis of <em>Kappaphycus averazii</em> biomass in ascorbic acid. Two hydrolysates products, contains OCs with distinct molecular weight varied by different reaction time, were foliar sprayed on maize field at different dosages; and the optimal treatment gave significant increases in the plant nutrient uptakes, plant height (by ~20.6%), and grain yield (by ~21%) over the control. We consider the possibility of hydrolysates usage as an effective biostimulant to reduce fertilizers in agriculture. The project was granted by The Tay Nguyen 3 Program which is a national Science and Technology program for Tay Nguyen socio – economic development (2011 – 2015) (http://www.vast.ac.vn/en/science-and-technology-research-projects?start=400?option=com_detai&amp;view=detai&amp;id=1078)