Next Article in Journal
Comprehensive Phytohormone Analysis Reveals the Roles of Auxin, Cytokinin, and Gibberellin in Enhancing Seed Germination and Growth of Chimonobambusa utilis
Previous Article in Journal
Synergistic Interaction Between VyMYB24 from Chinese Wild Grape Vitis yeshanensis and Cytokinin Enhances Cold Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Plants
Volume 14
Issue 24
10.3390/plants14243778
plants-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Sustainable Management of Invasive Algal Waste (Caulerpa prolifera): Biomass Compost for Nitrogen Reduction in Vulnerable Coastal Area

by
María Carmen Piñero
1,*,
Carlos García Delgado
2,
Sandra López Rayo
3,
Jacinta Collado-González
1,
Ginés Otálora
1 and
Francisco M. del Amor
1,*
1
Department of Crop Production and Agri-Technology, Murcia Institute of Agri-Food Research and Development (IMIDA), 30150 Murcia, Spain
2
Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
3
Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Food Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2025, 14(24), 3778; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243778
Submission received: 21 October 2025 / Revised: 3 December 2025 / Accepted: 9 December 2025 / Published: 11 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reducing the Use of Chemicals in Agriculture in Favor of New Methods of Plant Protection and Growth Stimulation)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Composting seaweed biomass reduces environmental impacts while supporting circular-economy strategies in coastal areas, where seaweed removed for recreational management is commonly treated as waste. This approach aligns with regional and EU policies on circular bioeconomy and coastal ecosystem restoration. This study evaluated the effects of Mar Menor seaweed compost applied at 0%, 15% and 35% on lettuce cultivation. Two nitrogen supply levels (100% and 60%) were also used to assess interactive effects on plant growth and nutrient dynamics. The optimal rate of 15% compost enhanced lettuce growth by 25.1% under 100% N irrigation and by 32.2% under 60% N irrigation, indicating that reduced nitrogen availability did not limit biomass accumulation. Indeed, irrigation nitrogen level did not affect total biomass. Compost addition also improved nutrient content and increased phenolic compounds in leaves. When nitrogen was reduced, the combination with compost further boosted phenolic accumulation, by 39.6% with 15% compost and 34.7% with 35%, suggesting a synergistic response. Overall, seaweed compost improves crop performance and nutritional quality while lowering dependence on synthetic fertilisers. Environmentally and economically, it provides coastal municipalities a sustainable option for managing excess seaweed by converting waste into valuable agricultural inputs and mitigating impacts of algal overgrowth.
Keywords: Caulerpa prolifera; algal waste; composting; leafy vegetable; nutritional qualities; circular economy framework; antioxidant activity Caulerpa prolifera; algal waste; composting; leafy vegetable; nutritional qualities; circular economy framework; antioxidant activity

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Piñero, M.C.; García Delgado, C.; López Rayo, S.; Collado-González, J.; Otálora, G.; del Amor, F.M. Sustainable Management of Invasive Algal Waste (Caulerpa prolifera): Biomass Compost for Nitrogen Reduction in Vulnerable Coastal Area. Plants 2025, 14, 3778. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243778

AMA Style

Piñero MC, García Delgado C, López Rayo S, Collado-González J, Otálora G, del Amor FM. Sustainable Management of Invasive Algal Waste (Caulerpa prolifera): Biomass Compost for Nitrogen Reduction in Vulnerable Coastal Area. Plants. 2025; 14(24):3778. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243778

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piñero, María Carmen, Carlos García Delgado, Sandra López Rayo, Jacinta Collado-González, Ginés Otálora, and Francisco M. del Amor. 2025. "Sustainable Management of Invasive Algal Waste (Caulerpa prolifera): Biomass Compost for Nitrogen Reduction in Vulnerable Coastal Area" Plants 14, no. 24: 3778. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243778

APA Style

Piñero, M. C., García Delgado, C., López Rayo, S., Collado-González, J., Otálora, G., & del Amor, F. M. (2025). Sustainable Management of Invasive Algal Waste (Caulerpa prolifera): Biomass Compost for Nitrogen Reduction in Vulnerable Coastal Area. Plants, 14(24), 3778. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243778

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop