The present invention relates to an agri- and horticultural material having bittern as an active ingredient containing Se at a level of 1.0 to 5.0 ppm, preferably 1.5 to 4.0 ppm, and the same to V if V is also necessary, and by application of Se (and V), the balance among minerals is improved to make plants healthy, resulting in effects of improving qualities of crops, such as control of harmful insects and ticks, preventing diseases, promotion of growth, increase of sugar levels in fruits, and enhancement of taste and good body without using agrichemicals or fertilizers.

A process is provided for the recovery of useful products, including fertilizers and nutritional supplements, from the organic matter and minerals contained in seawater and other brines. The dissolved organic carbon-based chemicals and suspended particulate carbon-based organic matter are co-precipitated together with the contained magnesium and/or calcium, along with incidental trace minerals, entrained water and water of hydration. An alkali base and/or alkaline earth base are added to the brine until a pH of 10.75 to 11.0 is achieved. The settled or non-dry filtered or centrifuged precipitate is utilized as a slurry and the supernatant brine is discarded.