Improvement of edaphic cyanobacterial population through liming in red and lateritic rice soils of West Bengal

Abstract

In view of the predominance of acidic pH levels in lateritic soils and of the importance of this soil property on growth and distribution of blue-green algae or cyanobacteria (CB), the effect of lime application on the reduction of acidity and subsequently on growth and some related physiological properties of CB have been studied. Four soils with varying pH levels were used for this purpose and three lime treatments corresponding to 0,50 and 100% lime requirement were applied to each of them. The soils thus treated were incubated under submerged condition in an illuminated chamber for 6 weeks and were drawn at weekly intervals for studies of the number, fresh mass and chlorophyll content of the developed algal mass. Increase of the pH value of the soil through application of lime improved growth and relevant physiological properties of the CB.