algae

[Guest]

I tried to research the use of algae in horticulture as an organic supplement, with almost no info in return. I was wondering if anyone here would happen to know about such an idea, really supplementing algae for kelp or seaweed. Mainly in compost beds.

 

[guanoman]

Liquid Karma lists Spirulina "Spirulina The Superfood Algae" right before kelp in their ingredients
http://www.rosemania.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product57.html

here is the typical analysis of Spirulina
https://3kserver7.com/~frank/secure/picserve.cgi?picserve=/spiralina.JPG

here is the typical analysis of kelp
http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/slanalysis.html

I haven't had time to compare these figures. I just found your question very interesting.

here is a simple way to grow your own spirulina "this was meant for third worlds, I'm sure we can do it here as well."
http://www.daenvis.org/technology/Spirulina.htm

 

[guanoman]

I apologize if I'm hijacking your thread a little.

I haven't been able to locate a local source of kelp meal. Only kelp extract, which is to expensive. Your question struck a chord with me but I don't have an answer. I only have more questions.

In the stores that sell Aquarium equipment and fish, I've seen "Floating Oxygenators" which were floating plants some were common duckweed and there were tropical Azolla and a couple others that have slipped my mind.

I couldn't find the typical analysis of either Duckweed or Azolla, though I found some nutritional facts about azolla.
http://www.amitbiotech.com/nutrition.html

I also noticed that all these water plants are high in protein, where Kelp was high in Carbohydrates. This would make them all a N Fertilizer Rather than K.

Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

i heard somewhere that instead of using kelp meal, you can use the seaweed you buy in grocery stores and just chop it up a bit. this is vague to me, so maybe someone with more knowledge on it can help you out.

 

[vonforne]

i heard somewhere that instead of using kelp meal, you can use the seaweed you buy in grocery stores and just chop it up a bit. this is vague to me, so maybe someone with more knowledge on it can help you out.

You can go to the grocery store, in the seafood section and get the seaweed that they wrap sushi in. I have heard that it works the same. Its use was described as : dry the seaweed, grind into a powder and add to water. Dilute and add to you nut mix. There is a post here about that I believe. You could do a search.

 

[vonforne]

Hey I found this for you. And here is the web addie.

http://www.noamkelp.com/technical/handbook.html

and a little reading:



Green Algae

Ulva lactuca

Common name: Sea lettuce


Description: Ulva lactuca is a bright green sheet that closely resembles Monostroma spp. and Ulvaria spp. Ulva is two cells thick while Monostroma and Ulvaria are only one cell in thickness. Ulva can be differentiated from Monostroma and Ulvaria by the fingerprint test. If fingerprints can be seen through the translucent plant, it is Monostroma or Ulvaria. If they cannot, and the texture is similar to wax paper, it is probably Ulva.

The shape of Ulva is quite variable; some specimens are almost circular or oval while others are narrow and elongated. Plants have a fine, silky texture with waved or ruffled margins.


Habitat: Ulva is found in a variety of places-on exposed rocks, in tide pools, and in quiet shallow bays near the low tide mark. Ulva thrives in estuarine, nutrient-rich waters and may be dense in salt marshes and on mud flats where fresh water is abundant.

Foraging: Sea lettuce is an annual or a pseudo-perennial (most of the seaweed dies back and the plant is regenerated by a residual basal material). Young plants should be harvested in early spring for taste and tenderness. Blades are cut or plucked from rocks at low tide. Drifting plants may also be harvested if fresh.

Uses: Ulva is occasionally used fresh in salads, but is more often processed before eating. Ulva is prepared and eaten in the same manner as Porphyra (see page 14), but is not considered as much of a delicacy. Sea lettuce has also been used for burn treatments.

Processing: Sea lettuce may be washed in fresh water, drained, and dried for use as a seasoning (similar to Porphyra). It is also used fresh as a fodder or dried, milled, and added to animal feed.

Nutrients: Very high in iron. High in protein, iodine, aluminum, manganese, and nickel. Also contains starch, sugar, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin C, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, soluble nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, chloride, silicon, rubidium, strontium, barium, radium, cobalt, boron, and trace elements.


Brown Algae

The Fucaceae

Common names:

Knotted wrack (Ascophyllum spp.)

Rockweed, bladderwrack (Fucus spp.)



Description: There are several species of the genus Fucus, and one species of Ascophyllum with several different forms or "scads." The Fucus species generally have dividing, Y-shaped, flattened blades with a prominent midrib. Fucus species may reach 2 or 3 feet in length and are not easily distinguished from each other.

Fucus vesiculosus has paired air bladders within the blades that "pop" when they are stepped on. These bladders keep the seaweed afloat so its photosynthetic tissues are more effectively exposed to sunlight. Breeding receptacles are football-shaped structures at the tips of the plant-orange if male and olive-green if female.

F. spiralis lacks bladders and has twisted fronds and numerous tufts of dark brown hairs scattered across the surface. Recep-tacles at the tips of the plants are "winged"--having a narrow, shelflike tissue bordering each one. F. distichus (subspecies edentatus, evanescens, and fileformis) are distinguished by the shape of their receptacles, which are 2 to 4 inches long and have a pointed tip.

Ascophyllum has long fronds without a midrib and narrow, unflattered, straplike blades with air bladders that grow singly and are scattered throughout the plant. Receptacles are small, pea-sized, yellow structures (found during the winter) along the length of the plant and attached by short stalks. A. nodosum has been reported to have a life span of about 20 years and is the dominant species of the sheltered and semi-exposed intertidal zone.

Habitat: These algae form the prominent "rockweed'' zone of the intertidal region in northern New England. This is the generally dark brown area that is very slippery to those walking on rocky shores and ledges.

F. spiralis is found at the upper level of the intertidal zone, F. vesiculosus forms a band toward the middle, and F. distichus subspecies are found in tide pools in the high intertidal and extend into the shallow subtidal zone. Ascophyllum prefers shores protected from heavy wave action and may also be found in tidal pools of salt marshes. Some of the less common forms of Ascophyllum (i.e.. A. nodosum ecad scorpioides) are free-living, growing unattached and often entangled in Spartina salt-marsh grass.

Foraging: Ascophyllum and Fucus are perennials. Because they grow slowly, it is best to collect them after they have washed up on the beach after a storm.

Uses: The main uses of Ascophyllum and Fucus are as fertilizers, soil conditioners, and sources of micronutrients in animal feed supplements. Studies have shown that seaweed fertilizers promote plant growth by supplying necessary minerals and growth hormones, and by improving soil structure. Studies have shown that when these seaweeds are used in animal feed, cows produce more milk, chicken eggs have better pigmentation, and horses and pets are generally healthier. These seaweeds are also important packing materials for shipping live lobsters and marine bait worms. A special form of Ascophyllum called wormweed (A. nodosum ecad scorpioides) is a gold-colored seaweed with very fine fronds that grows in localized areas and is used exclusively for the sand and bloodworm bait industry.

Processing: Local farmers gather rock-weed for use as a fertilizer and soil conditioner, and simply bury it in their gardens. When used as an animal supple-ment, the algae are dried in commercial dryers to 10 to 12 percent water content and milled to various particle sizes. Some is processed into liquid fertilizer. Alginates are extracted chemically and used in bulking, gelling, and stabilizing processes. Products using alginates include charcoal briquettes, cosmetics, ceramics, cheese, paint, asphalt, rubber tires, polishes, toothpaste, ice cream, and paper.

Nutrients: Very high in magnesium, and high in protein, vitamin A, iodine, bromine, and phosphorous. Also contain sugar, starch, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, sulfur, chloride, silicon, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, titanium, hydrogen, molybde-num, lead, barium, boron, radium, and trace elements.

Recipes: Rockweed for Clambakes, Rockweed as Flavoring, and Rockweed Tea (pg. 19)


http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/algae/ And another addie.