Synergistic role of smoke-water, seaweed extract and vermicompost leachate in improving seedling vigour of agricultural and vegetable crops

Seedlings are highly vulnerable to various stresses due to their underdeveloped root and shoot systems. Climatic changes and abiotic stresses further hinder seedling emergence, while the excessive use of inorganic inputs harms soil health. Organically derived biostimulants, such as smoke-water, vermicompost leachate, and seaweed extract, offer promising alternatives. While their individual effects are well-documented, little is known about their combined role in seedling development. This study evaluated the synergistic effects of smoke-water (1:2000 v/v), vermicompost leachate (1:20 v/v), and Kelpak (0.5%) on the growth and vigour of essential agricultural (barley, rape, wheat) and vegetable (cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, pea) crops under growth chamber conditions. The combination significantly enhanced seedling growth, vigour indices, and α-amylase activity in wheat, cucumber, and pea under both dark and light conditions. Other crops demonstrated these benefits either under dark or light conditions, with variable α-amylase activity. The seedling vigour index, a key indicator combining seedling length and germination percentage, showed notable improvements across all crops. These findings highlight the potential of biostimulant combinations in promoting seedling emergence and call for further investigation into their physiological and biochemical mechanisms.