Utilization of seaweed-based biostimulants in improving plant and soil health: current updates and future prospective.

Seaweeds are valuable marine resources having multifaceted usages in modern agriculture. Extracts from different seaweeds have been used since many years in agriculture practice to improve plant growth and to enhance the yield. At present, the excessive use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers imposes a global health hazard and pollutes agricultural lands worldwide. Thus, promoting the use of natural plant growth regulators and fertilizers, such as seaweeds, is recommended with promising outputs. Moreover, the seaweed extract-based biostimulants having plant growth -promoting capacity and aiding in improving the overall plant resilience are highly desirable. In addition, the seaweed extracts can improve the soil health and soil fertility. In this review, the different methods of obtaining the seaweed extract-based biostimulants are discussed. Additionally, the role of such biostimulants in plant growth promotion, mitigating plant abiotic and biotic stresses, and improving soil quality is illustrated and the underlying mechanism is discussed. In addition, some important applications of the seaweed extracts in other than agricultural area have been discussed in brief. Moreover, the future prospects of the seaweed extract-based biostimulants are presented with emphasizing on the economic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]