Growth Response of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) to Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF) Derived from Sargassum tenerrimum

Abstract

Pakistan cultivates a wide variety of crops across its regions and also has a coastal strip rich in seaweed vegetation. Tomato is one of the most widely consumed crops in Pakistan, used in many ways. Sindh and Balochistan are the leading provinces with the highest tomato yields. Since seaweeds enhance overall crop quality and yield, this study examines the effects of SLF derived from brown seaweed Sargassum tenerrimum collected from the Karachi coast on tomato plants. The SLF was tested at three different concentrations, 1%, 2%, and 3%, as a foliar spray. The results indicate that 3% SLF concentration can be used to increase tomato yield, as it not only improved tomato yield but also significantly increased shoot length, plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area.