Assessing the Efficacy of Freshwater Algal Isolates as Liquid Biofertilizers on Seed Germination of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.)

Abstract

The present study evaluates the potential of freshwater algal extracts obtained from the Pravara River and Pravara Left Canal as natural liquid bio-fertilizers for improving seed germination and seedling growth of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Different concentrations of algal extracts were tested, including aqueous and cow urine-based formulations. Among the treatments, the 20% cow urine-based algal extract from the Pravara Left Canal (T6) showed the highest effectiveness, achieving maximum seed germination (95.00%), shoot length (11.66 cm), root length (16.06 cm), and total plant height (27.16 cm) compared to control treatments. The findings reveal that combining algal extracts with cow urine significantly enhances the growth performance of safflower compared to aqueous algal extracts alone. Moreover, algal species collected from the Pravara Left Canal demonstrated greater effectiveness than those from the Pravara River in promoting germination and growth parameters. Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA confirmed that the variations in seed germination, shoot length, root length, and total plant height among treatments were highly significant (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with previous studies highlighting the beneficial effects of algal and seaweed-based liquid fertilizers, confirming their ability to enhance nutrient uptake, stimulate plant metabolism, and promote overall plant growth. Therefore, freshwater algal extracts, particularly when enriched with cow urine, present a sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers, supporting environmentally friendly agricultural practices in the Pravara River Basin.