WHY NATRAkelp?
SUPERIOR SEAWEED BIOSTIMULANT
Australian made NATRAkelp Organic Liquid Seaweed Biostimulant for Plants is manufactured from Ascophyllum Nodosum using a proprietary cold processing method.
The process enhances and preserves the Kelps bioactive components creating a symbiotic relationship between plants and biologicals within the soil.
The whole kelp used in the production of NATRAkelp Organic Liquid Seaweed Biostimulant for Plants includes a wide range of naturally occurring cytokines, auxins, gibberellins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Whole kelp also includes the all-important complex carbohydrates, mannitol and alginic acid.
Alginate is a very important component in whole kelps. It is a biological polymer anionic polysaccharide composed of glucuronic acid and mannuronic acid subunits. It increases the nutrient and water retention capacity of the soil and can feed certain types of soil micro-organisms acting as a “selective prebiotic” enhancing the survivability and maintenance of microbial communities. Whole kelp products enhance the biodiversity of the soil food web and help to increase the brix levels of crops.
When regularly applied, NATRAkelp Biostimulant provides ongoing sustained plant and soil activity. This activity promotes nutrient uptake, strong root and stem development, increased water retention, photosynthesis, yields and stress resistance.
NATRAkelp Biostimulant is ideal for small and broadacre crops, vineyards, turf and pasture, horticulture, ornamental and home gardens.
NATRAkelp Biostimulant is registered organic and is eco-friendly and sustainable. It does not contain synthetic chemicals or additives that can harm the environment.
What is Alginate and Why Does it Matter?
At its base level alginate is a biological polymer (biopolymer) anionic polysaccharide composed of glucuronic acid and mannuronic acid subunits. Alginate was discovered in the late 1800s and is commonly sourced from Phaeophytes (i.e. brown macroalgae, or kelp). Much later in the 1960s (e.g. Linker & Jones 1966) it was discovered that certain types of bacterial species of the Pseudomonas genus can also produce alginates and in the 1980s (e.g. Cote & Krull 1988) it was discovered that bacterial species of the Azotobacter genus can also produce alginates. All of these organisms have different numbers of genes for synthesising alginates, and modifying them once they have been formed. Pseudomonas has one of the more complex genetic systems with over 30 genes involved (e.g.
Gacesa 1998). This genetic diversity also ultimately leads to different types of alginates being generated by different types of organisms. These forms have varied structures, have varied levels of complexity, and can perform slightly varied functions.
ALGINATE / ALGINIC ACID (note: at physiological pH values [near neutral] it will be alginate)
Kelp remains the primary commercial source of alginate, although alternative sources have been studied extensively.
In soils the hygroscopic potential of alginates (binding 100s of times their weight in water) increases the nutrient and water retention capacity of the soil. It has been known since the 1930s that alginates can feed certain types of soil micro-organisms (but this is quite specific), thus acting as a ‘selective prebiotic’, enhancing the survivability and maintenance of microbial communities (e.g. Gauri et al
2012) – and there are synergistic benefits when whole kelp products are combined with beneficial microbial applications. Whole kelp products enhance the biodiversity of the soil food web and help to increase the brix levels of crops, which is often utilised by agronomists as an indicator of energy within the plant. Because of these reasons there are numerous consequent benefits to crop production including:
Due to hygroscopic and surfactant qualities of alginates they have also been known for many decades to increase the deposition and extend the effective life of foliar applied nutrients and chemical pesticides (e.g. Leece & Dirou 1977). This can potentially allow lower application rates to be utilised when foliar applications exploit synergistic benefits through combination with alginates.
Commercial Kelp Products and Alginates
Kelp products (i.e. commercial preparations derived from Phaeophyte species commonly of the Ascophyllum, Laminaria, Sargassum genera) are ‘broad spectrum’ kelp products that contain mineral nutrients, hormones (including cytokinins, auxins and gibberellic acid), vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, and numerous phytochemicals & alginates. Whilst they do not contain the concentrated mineral levels found in chemical fertilisers (e.g. urea and calcium nitrate) their broad spectrum of synergistic nutrients makes them a powerful part of the agronomist’s toolbox.
A critical aspect which remains a point of differentiation between commercial kelp products is the compositional analysis of their alginate content and quality. Often commercial kelp products have had
alginates removed or the integrity of alginates affected by harsh chemical facilitated, industrial extraction processes.
Why is NATRAkelp Liquid Seaweed a global leader in quality and measurable alginate content?
The NATRAkelp manufacturing process utilises the whole seaweed product as a feedstock for a unique fermentation process which is conducted slowly over an extended period of almost a month per batch.
This process occurs within physiological pH range (i.e. no extremes) and does not employ any harsh chemicals or heat. Like the production of fine wines, this proprietary maturation process is critical to ensure a consistent quality of output product that is guaranteed.