THE EFFECT OF MANGANESE AND IRON ON THE GROWTH OF MICRO ALGAE

ABSTRACT

This study focused on examining the effect of manganese and Iron on the growth of microalgae and examining the yield of the test microalgae in the different micronutrients. The samples, from which the unialgal cultures used in this study were obtained from, ponds in Benin City. The test microalgae used for this study were Chlamydomonas sp. and Dictyosphaerium pulchellum which are abundant in ponds, ditches, lake and streams. The concentrations of Mn used were 0 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l, 1 mg/l, 1.5 mg/l, 2 mg/l, 2.5 mg/l and 3 mg/l while those of Fe were 0 mg/l, 0.5 mg/l, 1 mg/l, 2 mg/l, 4mg/l, 6 mg/l and 12 mg/l. The growth of the test algae chlamydomonas sp. was significantly enhanced in both Fe and Mn as there was at least a four-fold increase in the growth response at 0 mg/l concentration and at least a three-fold increase at 0.5 mg/l concentration with Chlamydomonas sp when compared to Dictyosphaerium pulchellum. In addition, the yield at 1 mg/l,1.5mg/l, 2mg/l and 3 mg/l concentration was not significantly different for Chlamydomonassp. in Mn