Volume 3 – Issue 2

Online ISSN: 2582-368X

SPIRULINA CULTIVATION FOR MAKING PROFITABLE AND

Article Id: AL202132

A. Velmurugan

Tamilnadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India

Email: [email protected]

S
pirulina is multicellular and filamentous blue-green microalgae that can be consumed
by humans and animals. The researchers called “Wonder Gift of Nature and The
Future Nutritional Food” for human beings. Spirulina contains 55 to 70 percent of
protein and rich in all the nutrients needed for daily growth. So, spirulina cultivation is
gaining popularity among the people as a lucrative business.

Culture methods

Mother or pure culture

Healthy mother algae should be determining a good quality output and high yield. So
mother algae to be obtained from Algae research centres, fisheries colleges and certified
farmers only. Because it's necessary to avoiding contamination or mix with other microalgae.

Commonly grown spirulina species

 Arthrospira planters
 Arthrospira maxima
 Arthrospira fusiformis

Grow-out culture

The raceways flow-through system should be the best method of spirulina cultivation
for commercial purposes. In this system, water is constantly circulating so that the nutrients
in the water get to algae and prevent the algae from setting to the bottom of the tank. It's
economically made profitable; the size should not less then 20×2×0.5m. Especially the depth
should not be more or less than 0.5m. Then filling of water by using 40micron mesh cloths
for preventing other algae contaminations. Then added with the recommended amount of

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medium (chemical solutions) in tanks. After applying medium, the mother algae to be added
to tanks. The ratio of mother algae in tanks 1:100litres of water.And cell volume >25000cells
/ml.

Fertilizer management

The most commonly used growth medium of spirulina cultivation is ZARROUK'S

Table 1
S.No Constituents Amounts /litre.
1 Sodium bicarbonate (NaNO3) 18gms
2 Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) 2.5gms
3 Potassium phosphate di basic (K2HPO4) 0.5gms
4 Potassium sulphate (K2SO4) 1.0gms
5 Sodium chloride (NaCl) 1.0gms
6 Calcium chloride(CaCl2) 0.04gms
7 Ethylene diamine tetra aceticacid disodium salt (Na2-EDTA) 0.08gmd
8 Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) 0.2gms
9 Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) 0.01gms
10 A5 metal solution 1ml

. Table 2
S.No A5 metal solution Amounts/Litres
1 Boric acid (H3BO3) 2.86gms
2 Ammonium molybdate [(NH4)6MO] 0.02gms
3 Manganese chloride (MnCl2) 1.8gms
4 Copper sulphate (CuSO4) 0.08gms
5 Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) 0.22gms

Growth factors

Agitation- it's done every 2-3hrs regularly in a day time.

Salinity- the healthy ranges between 15 to 20ppt.

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Ph - the best ph ranges between 10.5 to 11. As below 10.5 pHs is a risk of contaminated with
other microalgae and ph over 11it undergoes chemical changes.

Temperature - optimal temperature ranges from 30 to 35℃.

Transparency - must be monitored every day. Because it is used to calculate algae density in
tanks. The best ranges of transparency 20 to 25cm.

Harvest and yield

The first harvest should be started in 15 to 20 days, then regularly harvest by day
today. Harvesting takes in morning 6 to 8 am suitable time for high yield. Because the
sunlight reaches the culture tank, the algae started in reproduction for cell fusion, so reduce in
cell size. Every harvest should be added growth medium regularly. Yield up to 15kg for wet
weight and 1kg for dry weight.

Table 3 Nutritional composition

Nutrients Amounts/grams
1 Protein 55 to 70g
2 Lipid 4 to 5g
3 Carbohydrates 15 to 18g
4 Chlorophyll 1 to 2g
5 Mixed carotenoid 350 to 450mg
6 Beta carotenoid 180 to 190mg
7 Calcium 400 to 600mg
8 Iron 50 to 100mg
9 Potassium 200 to 2000mg
10 Magnesium 200 to 300mg
11 Zinc 1 to 2.0mg
12 Vit.A 100 to 200mg
13 Vit.E 5.0 to 20mg
14 Vit.B1 1.5 to 4.0mg
15 Vit.B2 3.0 to 5.0mg
16 Vit.B6 0.5 to 0.7mg
17 Vit.B12 0.05 to 0.2mg

Conclusion

WHO (world health organization) also suggest that adding the daily diet will naturally
boost the immune system of your body. Spirulina is contributed animal feed as Mainly on
ornamental fish farming for increasing the colour pattern of fish. So proper training and
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technology to the cultivation of such nutritious algae can be lead to make a good profit and
improve the unemployed and rural livelihood opportunities in the society.

Reference

Habib, M. Ahsan B.; Parvin, Mashuda; Huntington, Tim C.; Hasan, Mohammad R.
(2008). "A Review on Culture, Production and Use of Spirulina as Food dor Humans and
Feeds for Domestic Animals and Fish" (PDF). Food and Agriculture Organization of The
United Nations. Retrieved November 20, 2011.

Gerswin, ME; Belay, A (2007). Spirulina in human nutrition and health. CRC Press,
USA.

Tokusoglu, O.; Unal, M.K. (2003). "Biomass Nutrient Profiles of Three Microalgae:
Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, and Isochrisis galbana". Journal of Food Science. 68
(4): 2003.

Belay, Amha (2008). Spirulina (Arthrospira): Production and Quality Assurance.

FAO and Google Wikipedia.

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