White Papers & Articles
The following is a bibliography of peer-reviewed research from around the world, documenting the effectiveness of live algae as an agricultural bio- stimulant.
Acres USA Magazine
Green Living
by George Taylor
Abd-El-Baky HH, et al. “Algal extract improves antioxidant defense abilities and salt tolerance of wheat plants irrigated with sea water.” African J Biochem Res (2008) 2:151-164.
The algal extract mitigated effects on growth, and they documented a boost in antioxidant enzyme activity (salt is an oxidative stress).
Agwa OK, Ogugbue CJ, Williams EE. “Field evidence of
Chlorella vulgaris potentials as a biofertilizer for Hibiscus
esculentus (okra).” Int J Agric Res. (2017) 12:181-189.
Chlorella vulgaris potentials as a biofertilizer for Hibiscus
esculentus (okra).” Int J Agric Res. (2017) 12:181-189.
They compared chlorella vulgaris with poultry manure and NPK fertilizer (one of the few studies to do a head-to-head comparison with NPK), and reported soil analysis. Growth promotion with algae and NPK was similar, and both outperformed manure. They found an increase in organic matter and organic carbon with algae treatment. At six weeks post-germination, organic matter increased from 4.4% to 5.9% with chlorella. It remained at 4.6% with NPK. Chlorella also boosted the chlorophyll content.
Albrecht, Ute. “Plant biostimulants: definition and overview of categories and effects.” UF/IFAS Extension Service, Univ of Florida. (2019), Publication HS1330.
A good description of the concept. He included seaweed (a macro-algae) but did not mention micro- algae. Live micro-algae as a soil amendment is relatively new to North America, although well
researched and in use around the world.
researched and in use around the world.
Bumandalai O., Rentsenkhand T. “Effect of chlorella vulgaris as a biofertilizer on germination of tomato and cucumber seeds.” Int. J. Aquat. Biol (2019) 7:95-99.
Documented increased growth with emphasis that the effect on root growth was greater than the effect on shoots. That has been observed in multiple studies.
Florenzano G, Balloni W, Materassi R. “Algal organic matter and plant growth.” (1978) Zentrakbk Bakteriol Naturwiss 133:379-84.
One reason for citing this is the date of publication— 42 years ago. A quote: “…it has been shown that micro-algae actively interact with higher plants at the level of the root apparatus. These interactions give rise to favorable effects on the growth of seedlings…Biosynthesis of growth-promoting substances by micro-algae must be considered a factor in the explanation of these results.” This was written a couple decades ahead of the identification of bacterial enhancer compounds. The point is that the science and use of micro-algae as a bio-stimulant are not new.
Hajanl-Jafari T, et al. “Effect of chlorella vulgaris on growth and photosynthetic pigment content in Swiss chard.” Pol J Microbiol (2020) 69:235-238.
They found a 10-fold increase in chlorophyll-a content with foliar and soil application. There were substantial increases in leaf number, length, and weight, as well as root length and weight.
Hajnal-Jafari, TI, Duric S, Stamenov DR. “Influence of green algae Chlorella vulgaris on initial growth of different agricultural crops.” Matica Srpska Journal for Natural Sciences. (2016) 130: 29-33.
They studied wheat, maize, lettuce, and beans, and found enhanced growth with Chlorella (soil application). Like others, they found that the effect on root mass was greater than on the above-ground plant. Soil analysis showed an increase in total bacterial number (foliar application only).
Kusvuran A, Kusvuran S. “Using microbial fertilizer as biostimulant alleviates damage from drought stress in Guar Seedlings.” International letters of natural sciences. 2019. ISSN: 2300-9675, 76:145-157.
Chlorella vulgaris was added to irrigation water (a common method of application). There was enhanced growth and drought resistance. This is neat science: they outlined the mechanism of drought resistance (an increase in antioxidant compounds), and how it is augmented by Chlorella vulgaris.
Kim JM, Shim CK, et al. “Effect of biostimulator chlorella fusca on improving growth and qualities of Chinese chives and spinach in organic farm.” The Plant Path J (2019) 34:567-574.
Chinese chives are used to make Kimchi, a national dish, and so are an important crop in South Korea. There was increased yield and chlorophyll content. The chives, a perennial grass, did not grow taller, but instead, thicker (thus increasing fresh weight). We have seen this with lawn application: the turf is thicker. They also noted resistance to grey mold disease.
Mulvaney, RL, Khan SA, Ellsworth TR. “Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers deplete soil nitrogen: a global dilemma for sustainable cereal production.” J Environ Quality (2009) 38:2295-2314. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2008.0527
Khan SA, Mulvaney RL, Ellsworth TR, Boast CW. “The myth of nitrogen fertilization for soil carbon sequestration. “ J Environ Qual (2007) 36:1821-32. DOI: 10.2134/ jeq2007.0099
• These two papers from the University of Illinois show that soil content of nitrogen and organic carbon declines with prolonged use of NPK. Organic matter measured with routine soil testing is roughly equivalent to organic carbon. Thus, with extended use, NPK causes a decline in fertility.
Righini H., Roberti R., Baraldi E. “Use of algae in strawberry management.” J Applied Phycology. 2018. 30: 1-14. (Italy)
A review article that cites the growth-enhancing properties of live algae. In addition, it comments on microalgae as a natural source of antifungal compounds. In addition to enhanced growth, they described longer shelf life for strawberries. There is a substantial bibliography.
Singh S. “A review on possible elicitor molecules of cyanobacteria: their role in improving plant growth and providing tolerance against biotic or abiotic stress.” J Applied Microbiology (2014) 117:121-1244. (India)
A description of the growth-enhancing compounds— enhancers—produced by microalgae as well cyanobacteria. It is a good description of the “growth hormone” concept, and it also reviews compounds produced by algae that activate a plant’s immune system. He also points out that algae can work in concert with nitrogenous fertilizer (NPK). It can be mixed in the tank with NPK as well as herbicides and pesticides (interestingly, herbicides do not kill algae).
Taha TM, Youssef MA. “Improvement of growth parameters of Zea mays (corn) and properties of soil inoculated with two Chlorella species.” Rep Opin (2015) 7:22-27.
In addition to enhanced growth, they described an increase in soil organic matter. Improved soil health is a consistent finding with live, micro-algae application. Chlorophyll content was higher.