| Abstract: | The agarophyte red alga Gracilaria verrucosa occurs widely in Chilika Lake, one of the RAMSAR wetland sites in India. The lake is situated in the extreme southeast corner
of Orissa between latitudes 19°28′ and 19°54′ N and longitudes 85°06′ and 85°35′ E. The natural biomass production is not
sufficient for the agar industry, and the only alternative is to maximize the production of the seaweed through mass cultivation
by seaweed farming. To elucidate important aspects of the growth and development of G. verrucosa, experimental field cultivation was undertaken at Langaleswar and Samal sites of Chilika Lake using ropes and raft methods
during March to August, 2009. After 30 days of cultivation a maximum 15- and 13.8-fold increase in biomass in raft culture
and rope culture, respectively, was observed at Langaleswar and an 11.6- and 11.0-fold increase in biomass at Samal. Environmental
parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, transparency, DO, conductivity, nitrate, and phosphate were monitored at both
stations, and the influence of environmental parameters is discussed. |
