Impact of foliar application of seaweed saps on yield, nodulation and nutritional quality in green gram (Vigna radiata L)
Seaweeds are marine macro algae, which form an important component of the marine living resources of the world. To evaluate the efficiency of seaweed (<italic>Kappaphycus</italic> and <italic>Gracilaria</italic>) saps on growth, yield and nutrition of <italic>Vigna radiata</italic>, an experiment was conducted during <italic>spring</italic> 2012 under field conditions. The ten treatments comprised two seaweed saps (K-sap & G-sap), four concentrations of each sap (2.5, 5, 10 and 15%), 7.5% of K-sap + 50% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers) and control. The highest grain yield of 557 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> was harnessed due to two foliar applications of 10% K-sap + RDF. Increase in yield due to K-sap ranged between 29.32 to 33.81% while due to G-sap it was 25.74 to 26.15%. Foliar application of K-sap influenced the number and dry weight of root nodules at flowering. Application of seaweed saps also enhanced quality of grains in terms of protein, P and K content.