Good news to our STCBF partners and SOA enrollees! Carrageenan Plant Growth Regulator (CPGR) from seaweeds is now available to boost crop production.

Carrageenan plant growth regulator (CPGR) has recently been found to increase rice yield up at an average of 25-30 percent. Carrageenan is an indigestible polysaccharide (carbohydrate) from red seaweeds and was further degraded through modified irradiation technology that elucidates growth promotion in plants. Studies conducted in the different areas of the country show enhanced yield even at low concentrations, making it a very effective organic fertilizer. 

Articles published by national agencies also show benefits of using CPGR such as strengthened rice stem, improved resistance to lodging, compatibility with farmer’s practice on fertilizer application, higher grain yield potential, resistance to rice tungro virus and bacterial leaf blight, and no harmful effects on beneficial insects and arthropods in the farm, thus, environmentally-friendly.

With the DOST-PCAARRD project on Sustaining Crop Productivity in Climate Vulnerable Areas in Ilocos Norte through Science and Technology Community-Based Farm (STCBF) on Climate Resilient Technologies implemented by MMSU, the technology is brought closer to the farming communities in Ilocos Norte. And through the School-on-the-Air program programmed in the project in collaboration with the Extension Directorate, PGIN and the LGUs, and the ILAARDEC, continuous increase in awareness in the use of this technology to help farmer-partners increase their income and enhance their knowledge on interventions for a climate-resilient Ilocandia is ensured.

Carrageenan, an Environment-friendly Booster 

According to Dr. Lucille Abad of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), CPGR is different from plant growth promoters available in the market that used carrageenan because the technology uses the seaweed itself for the process and not seaweed drippings. The seaweed then undergoes electron beam irradiation that breaks down the seaweed into smaller molecules for easier plant absorption. “Nothing happens here but splitting large molecules of carrageenan to smaller one, say from 1 million dalton (Da) to 5,000 dalton only. This breaking down makes the carrageenan easily absorbed by the leaves of rice or other plants, making them healthy, thereby, increasing our yield”, she said.

Noting the hesitation some may have on the safety of the product because of the irradiation process undergone, she said that carrageenan is generally safe, and nothing is there to worry because it is not radioactive. The irradiation process only breaks down the molecules into nano forms absorbable to plants. To prove this, she shared of a report of a farmer in one of their project sites who drank the carrageenan but did not experience headache or any adverse effect in the body. The act is not advisable but this only shows no harmful effects to the body in contrast to the use of commercial pesticides that require the use of gloves to avoid contact with the body.

Researches claiming Effectiveness

            “Carrageenan application was studied for five years. And in these years, we saw its effects to our test areas”, Dr. Abad started in her sharing of the effects of carrageenan to their rice plants in their project areas.

“In our first testing, we from the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) under the leadership of Dr. Gil Magsino, observed that the field applied with carrageenan was not affected by tungro virus. The plants were still healthy whereas in its left, there is tungro infestation, in its front, with tungro, even at the back. In other words, we observed that the carrageenan-applied field was not affected by the tungro virus at all”, she said.

Tungro virus is a common disease of rice characterized by stunted growth, yellow to orange discoloration in the leaves, young leaves sometimes mottled while rusty spots appear on older leaves, reduced tillering because of poor root system, and panicles not formed in very early infection, or if formed, remain small with few, deformed, and chaffy grains. This virus infection can be experienced anywhere in the country and can be avoided, and effectively reduced and cured, through the use of carrageenan as foliar fertilizer.

With the first year of implementation of the STCBF project, reports from farmer-partners in Ilocos Norte also report good effect of carrageenan in combatting bacterial leaf blight infection.  Leaf blight is a serious disease in rice that causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves usually observed when strong winds and continuous heavy rains occur.                                                      

“Aside from this, we also have a test field in Bulacan. Two to three years ago, we had a field applied with carrageenan and a control, and it was hit by Typhoon Lando”, she started. Typhoon Lando struck the northern Luzon in October 2015, bringing intense rains and peak winds of 185 kilometres. “What happened is that rice planted in the control lodged, whereas those sprayed with carrageenan did not”, she said with surprise in her voice. With this observation given the circumstance, they were prompted to dig the root system of the rice plants applied with carrageenan. “The plants had a really extensive root system. They have much roots that really made them hold onto the soil tightly”, she explained. This extensiveness of the root system makes the rice plants resistant to lodging and thus, sturdy against winds and rains.

With these encouraging effects, she also enumerated other effects they were able to observe. “After that, we looked into the yield since, this is the effect of carrageenan, it makes the plants greener and healthier. More and taller tillers were also observed… The plants grew robust, thick, and healthy”, she said. Proving this, she cited an experience in one of their test areas where they had difficulty walking through the fields. The plants grew thick that they had troubles moving along the field because of their robustness.

As to the yield performance of the plants applied with carrageenan, Dr. Abad said that yield per cavan is comparable to those not applied with CPGR, as in the case in Nueva Ecija. The difference, however, lies on their grain weight and quantity. “Not only does carrageenan PGR increase the number of grains, but grains of rice plants applied with carrageenan PGR are heavier compared to those not applied with CPGR”, she said. For trading purposes, this means that grains applied with carrageenan PGR are better because of their grain weight.

In a report she has read, she also shared that one of their farmer-co-operators had a significant difference in his yield with the use of carrageenan PGR. The farmers shared that his yield in 2017 with his use of carrageenan PGR added 15,000 per hectare to his earnings, as compared to his earning in 2016. With his testimony, carrageenan PGR is truly effective in enhancing the growth and performance of rice. In other areas, a record of 25% average increase in yield among their farmer-co-operators were also noted.

In the Ilocos, convergence with farmers-co-operators with the project also showed relevant observations in the use of carrageenan PGR. Among the observations are: 1) 2 weeks recovery upon attack of leaf blight, 2) more grains harvested despite the heavy downpour of rain that causes blackening and demise of grains, 3) resistance to lodging and with comparable harvests in the first and third cropping season.

Carrageenan for Vegetables? 

            Given the alluring benefits on the use of carrageenan, questions may also be directed on its promise on vegetables. Regrettably, Dr. Abad said carrageenan PGR cannot be applied just yet because no studies have truly credited its use on vegetables. “Its application on pechay, tomato, and other vegetables have to be adequately studied because we do not if there would be an effect or none”, she said during the interview. “Not because it is applicable on rice, it is equally good to other crops because of many reasons. We consider the dosage, the method of application, frequency of use, and others”, she added.

            It is noteworthy to know, however, that there are already projects on munggo and peanut, showing good results. According to them, more than 30% increase in the yield has been recorded on munggo and peanut but with varying dosage of application and frequency in spraying.

Studies are continuously done by project implementers on the use of carrageenan PGR especially with matters on vegetable production. With the potential technology takers of the technology, Dr. Abad shared that these companies also study carrageenan PGR on other crops for label expansion in the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA).

Carrageenan PGR Application on Rice Production

            Carrageenan PGR is a colourless to cloudy white liquid, such as the coconut water. For its use, a 1:49 dilution ratio is recommended that is, a litre of pure carrageenan is to be diluted in 49 litres of water. Three litres is needed every application that yields, 9 litres per hectare for the three stages of application. As according to Dr. Abad, “For every hectare, you will need to dilute three litres to 147 litres of water per application”.

In the IEC material being distributed by the University through the STCBF project (translated into Ilokano from the Carrageenan Technology for Rcie: A Carrageenan Plant Food Supplement Briefer from the National Crop Protection Center, CPC, and UPLB under the leadership of Dr. Gil Magsino), the application is summarized as follows.

This standard recommendation for rice production is now being used by farmer-co-operatos of the STCBF project. Prior to the distribution of the carrageenan PGR, a briefing on the application and use of carrageenan PGR is conducted to share practical recommendations on how they can use this in their farms.

While other farmers may worry on the possible circumstances of using the technology while commercial fertilizers are still in use because their farms are still in the transition period, Dr. Abad noted that “Carrageenan PGR will not work without fertilizers. It has to have fertilizer, organic or inorganic, because it only serves as a booster. It is very much compatible with other fertilizers being used, hence, one must be observant if there is still a need to use pesticides or none”. This advantage in using carrageenan PGR places the safety of the technology in consonance with other fertilizers being used by farmers.

As to overdose on the use of carrageenan PGR, Dr. Abad also shared potential negative effects of using more carrageenan PGR than the recommendation given. She said that the capacity of the plants to absorb should be considered just as how overdose affects human. Aside from this, the impracticality of applying too much was also noted since one only needs three liters for a hectare per application. She, then, advised that dilution of carrageenan PGR be done only when needed because of the quantity of storage material (for 49 liters for every application/for 147 liters for the hectare) to be used.

Storage and Aging Time

While most commercial fertilizers require much storage practices for optimum effects, carrageenan PGR only requires no exposure to sunlight for proper storage. Being a colorless to cloudy white liquid, exposure to sunlight causes the liquid to turn yellowish. However, this change in color is not considered a diminishing factor of its effectiveness.

“Once exposed to sunlight for too long, it will turn yellowish. However, even if it changes in color, its effect on the plants improves”, she said. Given this circumstance, she added that she does not recommend exposing the carrageenan for enhanced effect although they have studied a 21-month old carrageenan found to be adequately stable. “The effectiveness of our product does not shrink in our aging test”, she commented given the almost two years of the carrageenan in storage.

Soon for Full Commercialization

As trials and projects in different regions claim positive results in their application of carrageenan PGR, its full commercialization is already in line to serve more and more farming communities in other provinces and regions.

“To date, we already have technology takers of our carrageenan PGR. We already have two companies potential to commercialize CPGR to different regions”, Dr. Abad said on the note of fully marketing the product. To date, there are free carrageenan PGR being distributed by agencies and government projects for field testing on different climatic conditions in the country and as an additional agricultural intervention in bettering production. Once full and final, Dr. Abad said that they will transfer the technology to private companies which will be the one to sell it to farmers at a reasonable price.

“Once available in the market, it will not be as expensive as others. It will be cheaper than the commercial plant growth regulators already available”, she said during the interview. She also shared that in their conversation with one of the potential companies to commercialize the product, they said that a safe approximate of 500-600 pesos per liter is expected, that is close to 1,500 per hectare per application. With this approximation in contrast to the potential earning one can have for an hectare (as in the case of one farmer-cooperator), the cost will still be lower  than the potential 15,000 earning per hectare.

With the STCBF project implemented by MMSU, local farmer-co-operators and School-on-the-Air enrollees of the project benefit from the technology. Through continuous dissemination of information that raises their awareness on different breakthroughs in the agricultural sector, we help build climate-resilient farmers, thereby, building climate-resilient agriculture in the province and in the country.

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