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Use of Blue-green Algae as Biofertilizer: 2. Production, Storage and Viability of Soil-based Inocula

ABDUL AZlZ
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-10OO, Bangladesh

SIMUL C. SHAHA
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Mass production of soil-based inocula of Scytonema mirabile Dh26, Nostoc commune Dh41 and N. ellipsosponun Dh42, their storage conditions and viability for use as biofertilizer were studied. These strains were isolated from rice fields near Sonargaon, Bangladesh. Rice-field soil, collected from the same area was used for the mass production in polythene-Iined pits without (control) or with chemicals (CaC0₃, TSP and NaMo0₃: treatment). Use of oven-dried soil resulted in the reduction of the appearance of indigenous algal flora. S. mirabile formed bloom in pits without fertilizers after 14 days, while in the treated pits the alga did not. The growth of two Nostoc strains were poor both in the controlled and treated pits, and differences of their biomass were insignificant. Of the three algae tested, S. mirabile appeared to be a suitable strain for soil-based inoculum production without fertilizers in the controlled pits. The soil-based inocula were stored in polythene and gunny bags and earthen pots and under diffuse light and dark to find out better storage condition and extent of their viability. S. mirabile remained viable for more than a year when stored in these conditions. The two Nostoc strains were tested after storage in polythene bags for three months only and were found to remain viable. Polythene and gunny bags were equally suitable for storage of soil- based inoculum either in the diffuse light or in the dark.

Keywords: Inocula of strains, Storage, Blue green alge, Biofertilizer

Location: Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Bio fertilizer

Objectives:

To produce soil-based inocula of strains which are fast growing but have low fertilizer requiring feature, and have good viability after several months of storage, and to find out the best method of storage.

Methodology:

Soil-based inoculum was prepared by the polythene-lined pit method described by Venkataraman (198]) with little modification. However, this was done by the following three steps): (i) Culturing each strain separately in one litre conical flasks under continuous light for about seven days and at room temperature (29-35°C). The alga was then acclimatized to natural cycle of day and night by-keeping the flask on the window sil (at ]0-12% of full sun-light) for three days. (ii) Transferring the culture into plastic bowl (55 cm² area, 10 cm deep) containing 1000 ml non-sterile Chu 10 D-N medium. The bowl was painted white and lined with polythene. The culture was then acclimatized for about 3 days to 6h diffuse light and 6 h direct sun-light (1000-2000 µEm-2s-1 measured by Li-Cor light meter) followed by 12 h night. The alga was then acclimatized for three days to direct sun-light for 12 h, keeping the bowl on roof top of a building. The culture was then ready for inoculation in pits and it takes about 15 days for sufficient inoculum. (iii) Polythene-Iined pits were prepared. Soil used in the pit was collected from the same area from where the three strains were isolated. For the storage of air-dried algal flakes, polythene and gunny bags and earthen pots were used. These were stored in the dark (cupboard) and diffuse light (on the floor of a corner having 1 % of the full day-light). Quality of storage containers and viability were determined by estimating the biomass (as number of filaments) after 14 days of inoculation. Viability tests were conducted in conical flasks, petridishes or in pits. Sampling for biomass determination and relative abundance of algae was made by a 20 ml plastic syringe whose anterior end was cut to produce a cylinder with a piston. The surface area of the cylinder was 1.13 cm². Biomass as chi a was determined following recommendation by Marker et al. (1980). Fresh wt. was calculated from the chi a value.

Source of Information: Proc. Seminar on Research Findings on Some Biotech. Aspects, 1990

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The growth of two Nostoc strains were poor both in the controlled and treated pits, and differences of their biomass were insignificant. Of the three algae tested, S. mirabile appeared to be a suitable strain for soil-based inoculum production without fertilizers in the controlled pits. Polythene and gunny bags were equally suitable for storage of soil- based inoculum either in the diffuse light or in the dark.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings