Algae. 2014; 29(3): 217-225.
Development of a sustainable land-based Gracilaria cultivation system
Jang K. Kim1,* and Charles Yarish2
1Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA
ABSTRACT
Land-based seaweed (Gracilaria) cultivation systems may provide products with high quality and biosafety for human consumption, as well as for other high value applications. However, a limitation for this land based system is high management costs. The objective of this study was to determine if the management costs for Gracilaria cultivation can be reduced without a decrease in productivity by using CO2 injection along with a high stocking density and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and commercially available fertilizers. When Gracilaria tikvahiae was cultivated at a high stocking density and high PAR, coupled with CO2 enhancement, the productivity was significantly higher than that at a lower stocking density, low light without CO2 injection. We also found that G. tikvahiae grown in a medium of commercially available fertilizer (Jack’s Special, JS) showed a similar growth rate and productivity to that grown in von Stosch's enriched (VSE) seawater, while the cost for JS media is only 2% of the cost for VSE. These results suggest that CO2 injection and commercial fertilizer may be a potential way to provide sustainability in land-based Gracilaria cultivation systems.
Keywords :
carbon dioxide; fertilizer; Gracilaria; land based aquaculture; nutrients, sustainability
