Effect of Nitrogen Sources on Spirulina Growth

Spirulina has gained huge popularity for its benefits, having high protein contents, anti-oxidants, vitamins and other high nutritional values. This algae contains a diverse concentration of nutrients and has emerged as a wonder drug because of its varied uses. The antioxidant properties of Spirulina are well known and anticancer action has also been reported. Therefore, Spirulina is an important natural product for the improvement of human health. With steady increase in human population, the demand for this unique cyanobacterium, Spirulina has been greater than before. To reduce cultivation cost using different nitrogen sources have been reported by substituting ammonium phosphate, urea, ammonium salts and ammonium chloride as appropriate nitrogen sources which resulted better growth of this algae. In the present study, various types of nitrogen sources (Urea, NH4NO3, NaNO3, (NH4)2SO4) in 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l in composition with fertilizer (NPK) were studied to improve the biomass production for 2 weeks. Results demonstrated high amount of compositions inhibited Spirulina growth. 0.01 mg/l NaNO3 showed a stronger compound in biomass production while 0.5 mg/l NaNO3 increased Chlorophyll content. Ammonium has essential role in Phycoerythrin production rather than Nitrate, so that (NH4)2SO4 was the best composition. In generally, best results in biomass production was obtained in 1% saltlick with 1g/L NPK and 0.01 mg/l NaNO3. 3.1 g/L biomass during 14 days without any carbon source can be compare with Zarrouk/2 medium. This composition can be use economically for Spirulina production since little amount of cheap material make the possibility of Spirulina production.