Exploring the Role of Algae in Agriculture

 Algae are a diverse group of organisms that inhabit a wide range of environments. At the top B.Sc. colleges in Jaipur and India, students learn that algae can be found in freshwater, marine, terrestrial, and even hostile environments such as hot springs and the Antarctic. They range in size from microalgae, which are 0.2 μm in diameter, to seaweeds, which can grow beyond 50m in length. Algae are primarily aquatic and possess the ability to perform photosynthesis, capturing energy from sunlight and fixing carbon dioxide (CO2) into biomass, similar to terrestrial plants. They are thought to be the ancestors of modern plants because their photosynthetic machinery is linked to cyanobacteria. Unlike terrestrial plants, algae do not have roots, stems, leaves, or vascular tissue. Although cyanobacteria are often called blue-green algae, they are classified as bacteria.

The significance of algae as biofertilizers was first recognized in 1939, when scientist P.K. De attributed the fertility of tropical rice field soils to the nitrogen-fixing abilities of blue-green algae. Poddar International College’s B.Sc. course in Jaipur explains that algal fertilizers can improve soil fertility by increasing soil carbon and nitrogen, and by helping soil particles aggregate to improve structure. Cyanobacterial inoculants have positive effects on plant height, dry weight, and grain yield. They also increase the number of soil microorganisms that can transform nutrients from unavailable forms to forms accessible to plants. Soil microorganisms further improve air circulation in soil. Cyanobacterial fertilizers were often used along with inorganic fertilizer, making it difficult to determine whether the plant growth was due to the cyanobacteria alone or the combined effect with inorganic fertilizer.

Educational institutions pioneering in science education emphasize a comprehensive learning environment for students to help them gain a deeper understanding of various concepts. Poddar International College, a top-ranked M.Sc. college in Jaipur, is one such institution that provides students with holistic classroom discussions along with essential practicals in dedicated labs. Here, students pursuing B.Sc. and M.Sc. courses in Jaipur get the opportunity to get hands-on learning experiences with algae through botany labs and intensive laboratory courses. In these courses, they cover how to identify different varieties of algae, optimal growth requirements, and harvesting methods for processing algae. Explore Poddar International College’s science courses to take the first step towards a successful career in science.