Agricultural fertilizers as alternative culture media for biomass production of Chondracanthus squarrulosus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) under semi-controlled conditions

Abstract The red alga Chondracanthus squarrulosus was cultured under semi-controlled conditions to evaluate growth (biomass production) with agricultural fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and urea) vs. analytical grade inorganic salts; sodium nitrate (analytical grade) and seawater were used as controls. The concentration of each agricultural fertilizer used was 1.95 mg l −1 week −1 . Growth of C. squarrulosus with agricultural fertilizers and sodium nitrate as control showed no significant differences ( P