Seasonal studies on field cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty on the northwest coast of India

Cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii was carried out at Okha, northwest coast of India, from August 2004 to April 2006, using the raft and net bag methods. Seawater temperature, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate varied seasonally, with average values of 26.51 +/- 1.72 A degrees C, 34.23 A +/- 1.79 aEuro degrees, 17.46 A +/- 8.77 mu M L-1, and 1.32 A +/- 0.78 mu M L-1, respectively. After 15, 30, and 45 days of growth, average daily growth rates (DGRs) were 6.87 A +/- 0.27, 5.99 A +/- 0.18, and 4.97 A +/- 0.08 % with corresponding biomass of 292.43 A +/- 12.06, 629.58 A +/- 32.56, and 977.98 A +/- 36.59 g FW plant(-1), respectively, for the raft cultivation. In the net bag method, after 15, 30, and 45 days of growth, the mean DGRs were 7.88 A +/- 0.38, 5.83 A +/- 0.10, and 4.42 A +/- 0.14 % with biomass values of 348.98 A +/- 19.48, 623.28 A +/- 29.95, and 813.73 A +/- 52.64 g FW plant(-1), respectively. This study confirmed the feasibility of cultivating K. alvarezii on the northwest coast of India.The authors would like to thank Dr. P. K. Ghosh, Director, and Dr. Kalpana Mody, Senior Scientist, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, for their support. The financial assistance by the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India (Sanction No: BT/PR 3309/PID/03/139/2002), is also gratefully acknowledged