Just-Kelp Production Process:

Our Just-Kelp liquid seaweed extract is made from 100% farmed kelp species, which are hardy and fast growing. To manufacture Just-Kelp, the cell walls of the kelp are first ruptured via physical methods and then the seaweed is pressed under high pressure to obtain the liquid extract. This process does not use any heat, chemicals or dehydration, and the liquid is bottled in its ‘virgin’ raw form without dilution. The Just-Kelp liquid extract contains a mix of complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides), phytohormones, amino acids, nutrients and beneficial microbes that promote plant growth and soil health.

Active ingredients:

Macronutrients and micronutrients: Magnesium and Calcium concentrations are relatively high in Just-Kelp. Magnesium is essential for photosynthesis and formation of chlorophyll, as well as protein synthesis, so helps promote greener and more productive plants[1]. Calcium plays a very important role in plant growth and cell wall deposition (so physically strengthens plants), and is necessary for the proper growth and functioning of root tips and meristems, as well as adjusting the pH of the soil. The most abundant micronutrients in Just-Kelp are Sodium, Chlorine, Silicon, and Iodine. Sodium and Chlorine concentrations are low enough in the diluted extract to not be toxic to plants, and may aid in metabolism and synthesis of chlorophyll, as well as the opening and closing of stomates, which helps regulate internal water balance. Iodine has been shown to lead to early flowering, and regulates several genes involved in the plant defense response, suggesting that iodine may protect against both biotic and abiotic stress[1].

Complex Carbohydrates: Just-Kelp is rich in Mannitol, a six-carbon sugar, which acts as an ‘osmoregulator’ in some plants and increases their tolerance to salt[2], and protects plants against osmotic stress by acting as an antioxidant[3],[4]. Mannitol also plays a role in plant responses to pathogen attack and coping with biotic stress. It also contains other large carbohydrate molecules known as polysaccharides which are potent biostimulants for improving growth and yield of some plants.

Amino Acids: The amino acids present in Just-Kelp are known to reduce the effects of drought (water deficiency) when applied to plants as a foliar spray. The most abundant amino acids in Just-Kelp are glutamic acid and arginine, which have been scientifically proven to improve yields of drought-stressed rapeseed[5] and sunflowers[6] when the plants were treated with the amino acids before a dry spell. In a separate study, yields of corn were up to 30% greater when sprayed with amino acids under water deficient conditions. The study revealed that spraying plants with amino acids before water deficient stress is up to 20% more effective than spraying amino acid after water deficient stress[7]. Another study on wheat revealed that amino acids reduced damage due to stress by 70% when applied at a concentration of 1 mL per Liter[8].

References:

[1] Kiferle, C., et al. Evidences for a Nutritional Role of Iodine in Plants. Front. Plant Sci., 17 February 2021

[1] Ishfaq M et al. 2022. Physiological Essence of Magnesium in Plants and Its Widespread Deficiency in the Farming System of China. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.802274.  

[2] Stoop, JMH., Williamson, JD., Pharr DM., 1996. Mannitol Metabolism in Plants: A Method for Coping with Stress. Trends in Plant Science. Vol 1 (5): 139-144

[3] Patel, TK., Williamson, JD., 2016, Mannitol in Plants, Fungi, and Plant–Fungal Interactions. Trends in Plant Science. Vol 21(6): 486-497.

[4] Abebe T., Guenzi AC., Martin B., Cushman JC., 2003. Tolerance of Mannitol-Accumulating Transgenic Wheat to Water Stress and Salinity. Plant Physiology. Vol 131 (4): 1748-1755.

[5] Xu Z., Ma J., Lai P., Wang Q., Feng X., and Xu H., 2020. Poly-γ-glutamic acid induces system tolerance to drought stress by promoting abscisic acid accumulation in Brassica napus L. Sci Rep, 10:252.

https://www.interagro.co.uk/yield-boosting-biostimulant-available-for-conventional-and-organic-crops/

[6] Hassan AM., Mohamed HE., 2018. L-Arginine Pretreatment Enhances Drought Resistance of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Plants by Increase in Polyamines Content. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. Vol 38: 600-605

[7] P. Kasraie et al. 2012. The Effects Of Time Spraying Amino Acid On Water Deficit Stress On Yield, Yield Component And Some Physiological Characteristics Of Grain Corn, Scholars Research Library

[8] Azimi M.S. et al. 2013. Evaluation of Amino Acid and Salicylic Acid application on yield and growth of wheat under water deficit, International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, Vol. 8: 816-819