Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DISTRIBUTION OF ALGAL DIVERSITY IN THE RICE FIELD

Udhaya Kumar K. and Brundha Annadurai

Abstract

A good understanding of the distribution of algal communities in paddy fields in the wetland ecosystem is essential. Moderate temperature, high light nutrient and water availability appears to be better conditions for algal growth in the rice field habitat. Diverse chlorophycean taxa with wide range of thallus structure were collected and identified of the algal communities using image processing techniques from microscopic images. It’s belonging to various orders that is, Oedogoniales, Zygnematales, Cladophorales, Chlorococcales, Ulotrichales etc. The collected algal samples of dry matter, nitrogen, carbon and sugar content are analysed. Oedogonium australe showed that higher percentage of dry matter averaged 6.25% whereas, Navicula (2.70%) showed very low amount of dry matter compared to other algae communities. Similarly, Nitrogen content of the collected algal biomasses was equivalent to values ranging from 1.20 to 3.95. Oedogonium australe showed highest percentage of sugar (22.5) and carbon content (23.7), whereas, Tribonema regulare revealed very low percentage of carbon (10.3) and sugar (10.1). At the same time, experimental paddy field soil nutrients were changed because of the algal growth. This study reveals that the varietal numbers of algal diversity will help to increase the nutrient status in the soil.