What do seaweed and kelp products do?

Under research conditions, various seaweed or kelp emulsions have been used as foliar sprays on plants and they have caused measurable increases in plant growth and performance. Similarly, liquid seaweed emulsions added directly to the soil have increased its microbial activity, accelerating the process of freeing nutrients for plants. Seaweed or kelp extracts provide most of the micronutrients needed by plants and soil. All living-things require a variety of these micro-nutrients, many in small, or "trace" amounts. Examples include boron, zinc, and iron. These minerals, present in seaweed, improve plant health, yield, shelf life and flavor, as well as resistance to stress, disease, and pest attacks. Some of these minerals may be deficient in soil (there is a zinc shortage in many Eastern U.S. soils, for example), or sometimes favorite plant hybrids and sensitive varieties just can't assimilate existing minerals, no matter how abundant. Soils which are extremely high or low in ...  more