Effect of Microalgae Extracts as Liquid Fertilizer on Total Carbohydrate Content of Luffa acutangula (Roxb)

Microalgae excretes growth promoting regulators, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, polypeptides, antibacterial and antifungal substances that influence crop growth and productivity. In the light of this, it was of particular interest to evaluate the algal liquid extracts of 15% Chara zeylanica and Hydrodictyon reticulatum; 20% Lyngbya martensiana and Rhizoclonium crassipellitum owing to assess their effect on total carbohydrate content of Luffa acutangula. It was evident that, the total carbohydrate content in Ridge gourd fruits found in the range of minimum 87 gm/ gm to maximum 162 mg/ gm. The utmost augmentation of 86.21% in total carbohydrate content has been attributed to the momentous influence of the Hydrodictyon reticulatum extract over the control. Conversely, the lowest and minimum amount of total carbohydrate content i.e. 87 mg/ gm was recorded in the Control. However, the plants which be given the treatment of algal extracts have manifested altogether 59.78% augmented total carbohydrate content that was 35.64%, 40.24% and 47.14% more over the Power plant, Plantsol and Recommended dose of NPK treatments. The enhancement in amount of total carbohydrate content might be due to the stimulatory organic acid metabolism resulted from increased photosynthesis and augmented translocation of photosynthate from leaves to fruits and also as a result of activated biochemical processes. The present findings will be useful to the agriculturists and marginal farmers for utilizing algal extracts as liquid fertilizer and making use of rich natural fresh water algal resources available in our nearby areas for this purpose.