Cultivation Of Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue green micro algae. Spirulina is an excellent source of proteins, beta-carotene, B vitamins and minerals like iron. Spirulina is a wonder food especially for the undernourished people. Hence its cultivation is also encouraged in the domestic levels of the developing countries who are the worst victims of chronic malnutrition. Spirulina also proves to fetch them good amount of economy.

Spirulina is cultivated both for the commercial purpose as well for the domestic use in certain regions that are badly hit by chronic malnutrition and other deficiency diseases. Let us first see the domestic house-hold level cultivation of Spirulina.

The domestic cultivation method is well known as the "Mud Pot Spirulina Cultivation". This method requires only 3 mud pots of 35 to 40 liters capacity and an exposed but protected open area. The medium for the cultivation is the bio-gas slurry which is very cheap and easily available. Then the sea-salt or a mix of Potassium dihydrogen Phosphate, Cooking Soda and Sodium Chloride, all this and pure Spirulina culture. The method of working is very simple. All the three pots are buried till the neck in the ground. These are then filled with water and the slurry medium. Next the pure Spirulina culture is added to the pots. These are to be kept in sunlight and need to be stirred at least 4 times a day. After 3-4 days of maturation the Spirulina is ready. It is now filtered in clean cloth and then washed in fresh water. Spirulina can be immediately used for consumption or if a powdered form is desired it should be dried immediately.

The Spirulina that is to be used for the commercial purpose is cultivated in a different way. The commercial Spirulina is grown open-channel shallow artificial ponds. Here the paddle-wheels are used to stir the water so as to accelerate the growth of Spirulina. The largest commercial production of Spirulina is carried out in United States, Thailand, India, Taiwan, China, Pakistan and Myanmar (i.e. Burma).

A simple and cheap technology has been developed for rural women to cultivate spirulina at home. problems in marketing many farmers have taken up spirulina cultivation. Important parameters in cultivation of spirulina. Agitation of algal culture is necessary. hould we cultivate spirulina in algae farms or harvest blue-green algae from lakes ?