Effect of Composting on Growth of Blue Green Algae

Composting of soil is important for the productivity of crop plants. Enrichment of manure is favorable for succession of blue green algae. It has been suggested that blue-green algae (BGA) assist higher plant growth by supplying growth substances. Blue green algae are a group of microalgae that can fix the atmospheric nitrogen which is important for the fertility of soil. Isolation of these cyanobacteria from natural sources in pure form is essential step for their efficient use as biofertilizer. In present investigation four species of blue green micro algal forms were isolated from composted soil samples from maize fields of Sangola tehsil of Solapur district. The isolation of pure cultures were carried out by selecting a single colony from mix cultures and were allowed to grown on selected media like BG-11, bold basal media, ASN III media as different BGA strains can grow on different media. The same media in solid form is used for further purification and sub culturing. The pure cultures were then transferred in solid and liquid media for further studies.