The Use of Marine-Based Fertilizers as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizers: A Study and Its Potential

With the increasing demand for sustainable agriculture, the use of marine-based fertilizers such as seagrass and jellyfish has gained attention among researchers and agricultural practitioners. Marine fertilizers have the potential to replace chemical fertilizers, which have harmful environmental effects, particularly in terms of soil and water contamination due to the excessive use of chemicals.

Iraj Emadodin

12/27/20241 min read

An early study by Duarte (1990) highlighted the chemical components in seagrass species, such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), which have the potential to improve soil fertility. Seagrasses like Posidonia oceanica have been used in compost form for crops such as tomatoes and lettuce. Research by Grassi et al. (2015) demonstrated that the use of seagrass compost increased potassium and phosphorus levels in the soil, while also enhancing crop yields, particularly by improving soil moisture management.

In addition, the use of dried jellyfish as a fertilizer has also shown promising results. A study by Hossain et al. (2013) found that dried jellyfish significantly increased the dry weight of rice plants, with higher nitrogen concentrations compared to other organic materials like rice bran. Jellyfish also contains considerable amounts of key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which support plant growth.

However, before marine fertilizers can be widely used in agriculture, further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety, especially regarding the management of high salt content in these marine materials. Studies by Ezaki et al. (2008) suggested that the salt in marine fertilizers should be removed to avoid negative impacts on the soil.

The use of marine fertilizers is a step towards more environmentally friendly agriculture. By benefiting soil fertility, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers, and contributing to environmental sustainability, marine fertilizers have the potential to be a better choice in the future.

By:

Institute for Crop Science and Plant Breeding-Grass and Forage Science/Organic Agriculture, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany: Iraj Emadodin, Thorsten Reinsch, & Friedhelm Taube
Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Piran, Slovenia: Ana Rotter & Martina Orlando-Bonaca
Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark: Jamileh Javidpour
GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany: Jamileh Javidpour

Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42398-020-00097-y

The Use of Marine-Based Fertilizers as an Alternative to Chemical Fertilizers: A Study and Its Potential

Sustainability