Experiment design -Effect of Seasol seaweed extract on avocado trees
Field trials:
- Five field trials across multiple seasons (2016-2021)
- Three field trial sites (FNQ -Australia)
- Commercial scale field trials (6 –16 ha)
- Two avocado cultivars (Hass and Shepard)
- Avocado Tree Ages (3-12 years)
- Two soil types (clay and silty clay loam)
Treatment:
StandardisedSeaweed Treatment (Seasol) rate 10L/ha, monthly, soil application by under tree sprinklers
Assessments:
Fruit yield, fruit number, fruit post-harvest quality, using LMM for statistical analysis (& nursery root growth pot trial)
Key Results:
- Application of Seasol seaweed extract to avocado trees in ‘real world’ field trials:
- Application of Seasol seaweed extract to avocado seedlings in pots:
Outcome:
- The results support the use of Seasol seaweed extract to improve:
- Australian avocado grower productivity
- Avocado fruit quality for consumers
- The results provide compelling science for Agronomists to optimise the use of Seasol seaweed extract in Avocado production
Seasol Seaweed extract increased avocado fruit yield
Treatment with Seasol Seaweed extract significantly increased Avocado Fruit yield by 38% (kg per tree):
- P-value = 0.038
Commercial scale field trials:
- 2017-2021 seasons
- Hass and Shepard cultivars
Seasol seaweed extract increased avocado fruit number
Treatment with Seasol Seaweed extract significantly increased Avocado fruit number tree by 42% (P-value = 0.015)
Experiment design -Effect of Seasol seaweed extract on Avocado post-harvest fruit quality
Post-harvest fruit quality assessments:
- Fruit skin firmness
- Fruit flesh firmness
- Skin colour grading
- Fruit ripeness
- Others (Skin & flesh disorders & rots)
Seasol seaweed extract increased Avocado post-harvest fruit quality
Summary
Avocado fruit ripeness after 21 days cool storage
Seasol seaweed extract increased avocado root growth
Treatment with Seasol Seaweed extract significantly increased Avocado fresh root growth (P-value = 0.022)
