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Distribution of Blue-green Algae in Soils of Chittagong University Campus and Their Nitrogen Fixing Capacity

M.A. GAFUR
Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

SOLTANA PARVIN
Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Occurrence of blue-green algae in plain land, pond side, hilly area and dry rice field soils of Chittagong University Campus and N₂ fixation of some of them have been studied. Twenty four species under 20 genera were identified and their number varied from 0.11Ã—104/g to 2.8Ã—104/g soil. Anabaena oryzae, Calothrix sp., Cylindrospermum majus and Hapalosiphon hibernicus and Nostoc spongiaeforme were selected for their nitrogen fixing potential. Maximum amount of total nitrogen was recorded in Nostoc spongiaeforme followed by Hapalosiphon hibernicus, Cylindrospermum majus, Anabaena oryzae and Calothrix sp. after 30 days growth in batch cultures.

Keywords: BGA, Distribution, Nitrogen fixation

Location: Department of Botany, University of Chittagong

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Bio fertilizer

Objectives:

The fertility of tropical rice field soil is maintained by the blue-green algae through di-nitrogen fixation. Thus it was important to examine the occurrence, distribution and quantitative enumeration and isolation of blue-green algae and to study nitrogen fixing potential of some isolates.

Methodology:

The Chittagong University Campus lies in the longitude of about 91°5? east and latitude of 22°30? north and covers a total area of 520 hectares which is mostly hilly (Gafur et al. 1979). Thirty soil samples were collected at 0 to 15cm depth from plain land, pond side, hilly area, dry rice fields and each was composite of five sub-samples. Two grams of each of the air dried soil sample were transferred into the conical flask containing sterilized Chu-10D medium (Chu 1942) and incubated. After 21 days a mixed growth of BGA was observed. These were microscopically examined and identified. The quantitative enumeration of BGA in the samples was done by most probable number method with the help of MPN chart from the number of positive tubes inoculated with higher dilutions (Alexander 1965). From the mixed algal growth BGA were isolated and cultured in nitrogen free liquid medium under natural light and room temperature. The algal mass for each isolate after growth for 30 days was separated from the medium by filtration through Whatman No. 41 paper and nitrogen content was determined by microkjeldahl digestion and distillation method (Jackson 1958).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Bot. 37(1): 49-53, 2008 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Maximum amount of total nitrogen was recorded in Nostoc spongiaeforme followed by Hapalosiphon hibernicus, Cylindrospermum majus, Anabaena oryzae and Calothrix sp. after 30 days growth in batch cultures.

Knowledge Management: Journal