LINOMAR Operational Group: Obtaining biostimulants formulated from algae extracts obtained from waters contaminated by nitrates
- Type Operational group
- Status In progress
- Execution 2024 -2026
- Assigned Budget 595.173,56 €
- Scope Supraautonómico
- Autonomous community Comunitat Valenciana; Murcia, Región de
- Main source of financing PEPAC 2023-2027
The aim of the project is to develop a new biostimulant product formulated with microalgae extracts from native strains of the Mar Menor (Murcia) and the Albufera of Valencia for horticultural and citrus crops, the application of which can reduce the amount of conventional nitrogen fertilizers supplied to these crops.
The innovative project focuses on developing a new product for horticultural and citrus crops, the application of which can reduce the amount of conventional nitrogen fertilizers used for these crops.
- Selective sampling in various areas of both lagoons.
- Chemical analysis of water at different sampling points.
- Selection of the fastest growing and best adapted species.
- Study of the chemical composition of selected microalgae Scaled to “raceways.
- Optimization of the extraction process.
- Formulation of biostimulant products.
- Small-scale pilot validation trial.
- Validation of winter fruit and vegetable crops.
- Validation of summer fruit and vegetable crops.
- Validation of citrus crops Crop monitoring (field surveys).
- Satellite condition monitoring.
- Development of the DSS.
The Mediterranean area of the Region of Murcia and the Generalitat Valenciana is an eminently agricultural area thanks to its climate and the soil's edaphoclimatic properties, which allow for high production throughout the year and of great quality.
Furthermore, this area is also characterized by a high biodiversity of fauna and flora along its banks and freshwater and brackish lagoons. Both sectors are threatened by the indiscriminate use of nitrogen fertilizers on almost 10,000 hectares of cultivated land (Soria et al. 2022). The presence of nitrates from fertilizers harms the environment, forcing the relevant organizations to impose restrictions on farmers' application of conventional synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
According to 2022 data, the Mar Menor received a total of 3,580 tons of nitrates and 19.7 tons of phosphates (Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Miteco). In this context of agriculture and the environment, there is a growing need to develop environmentally sustainable farming techniques that reduce the amount of nitrates that reach or are already contained in the natural resources of agricultural areas.
- The objective of this project is to develop a new biostimulant product, formulated with microalgae extracts from native strains of the Mar Menor and the Albufera lagoon in Valencia, for horticultural and citrus crops. This application can reduce the amount of conventional nitrogen fertilizers used in these crops. The algal biomass will "bioremediate" the nitrates contained in the waters of the Mar Menor and the Albufera lagoon.
Identify and isolate species of denitrifying microalgae from the coastal lagoons of the Mar Menor and the Albufera. - To understand the physical and chemical characteristics of the algal biomass obtained from raceways in order to select algae species that, in addition to having denitrifying capacity, have the bioactive ingredients necessary for formulating biostimulants aimed at reducing nitrogen input to crops.
- Produce algal biomass on a large scale using “Raceway” systems to formulate biostimulant products from their extracts.
- Formulate and develop biostimulant products made from seaweed extracts to reduce the use of conventional nitrogen fertilizers.
- Agronomic validation of the biostimulant products obtained during the project in horticultural and citrus crops. Use of technological tools to support monitoring.
- R1: Isolation and acclimatization of lagoon species (Mar Menor and Albufera).
- R2: Selection of microalgae for specific functions.
- R3: Scaling up algae cultivation to pre-industrial levels.
- R4: Obtain and optimize the methodology necessary to manufacture biostimulant products with algal biomass extracts on an industrial scale.
- R5: Use biostimulants to reduce the amount of conventional synthetic fertilizers applied to fruit and vegetable crops by 30-50% without loss of production and crop quality.
- R6: Development of the DSS for monitoring and tracking the conditions of raceways and crops.
- Name of coordinator/entity: Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Murcia (FECOAM)
- Postal address: C/CABALLERO Nº 13, BAJO
- Coordinator/entity email: psanchez@fecoam.es
- Telephone: 968351282
- Federación de Cooperativas Agrarias de Murcia (FECOAM)
- Federación de Cooperativas Agrarias de Murcia (FECOAM)
- Cooperativa de Agricultores y Ganaderos del Campo de Cartagena (COAGACART)
- SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA Anecoop S. Coop (ANECOOP)
- AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (CSIC)
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