Seasonal studies on field cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty on the northwest coast of India

• Published in: Journal of applied phycology 2016-04, Vol.28 (2), p.1193-1205
• Main Authors: Kumar, K. Suresh, Ganesan, K, Subba Rao, P. V, Thakur, M. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; coasts; Cultivation; Ecology; field experimentation; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Kappaphycus alvarezii; Life Sciences; nitrates; phosphates; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; salinity; seasonal variation; Seawater; temperature; Water temperature
• ISSN: 0921-8971; 1573-5176
• DOI: 10.1007/s10811-015-0629-y

Cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii was carried out at Okha, northwest coast of India, from August 2004 to April 2006, using the raft and net bag methods. Seawater temperature, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate varied seasonally, with average values of 26.51 ± 1.72 °C, 34.23 ± 1.79 ‰, 17.46 ± 8.77 μM L⁻¹, and 1.32 ± 0.78 μM L⁻¹, respectively. After 15, 30, and 45 days of growth, average daily growth rates (DGRs) were 6.87 ± 0.27, 5.99 ± 0.18, and 4.97 ± 0.08 % with corresponding biomass of 292.43 ± 12.06, 629.58 ± 32.56, and 977.98 ± 36.59 g FW plant⁻¹, respectively, for the raft cultivation. In the net bag method, after 15, 30, and 45 days of growth, the mean DGRs were 7.88 ± 0.38, 5.83 ± 0.10, and 4.42 ± 0.14 % with biomass values of 348.98 ± 19.48, 623.28 ± 29.95, and 813.73 ± 52.64 g FW plant⁻¹, respectively. This study confirmed the feasibility of cultivating K. alvarezii on the northwest coast of India.