Agricultural fertilizers as
alternative culture media for biomass production of Chondracanthus
squarrulosus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) under semi-controlled conditions
I. Pacheco-Ruíz, J.A. Zertuche-González, E.
Arroyo-Ortega, E. Valenzuela-Espinoza-2004
Aquaculture, 240(1-4): 201-209
Abstract:
The red alga Chondracanthus squarrulosus was
cultured under semi-controlled conditions to evaluate growth (biomass
production) with agricultural fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, ammonium
sulphate and urea) vs. analytical grade inorganic salts; sodium nitrate
(analytical grade) and seawater were used as controls. The concentration of
each agricultural fertilizer used was 1.95 mg l−1 week−1.
Growth of C. squarrulosus with agricultural fertilizers and sodium
nitrate as control showed no significant differences (P<0.05). A
maximum growth of 5.4% per day and thallus nitrogen content of 3.4% dry
weight were obtained with ammonium sulphate. The results suggest that
commercial agricultural fertilizers can be substituted for analytical grade
nutrients with no significant effect on the culture.