December 18, 2024 by Rajkumar
In this article we will discuss about economic importance of algae:- 1. Algae Used as Food, 2. Agricultural economic importance of algae, 3.Algae Used as Fodder, 4. Role of Algae in Industries, 5. Medicinal economic importance of algae, 6. Algae Used as Food in Space, 7. Sewage Disposal economic importance of algae, 8. Biological Indicator and 9. Negative Effects
Table of Contents
- Economic Importance of Algae
- 1. Algae Used as Food
- 2. Agricultural Importance
- 3. Algae Used as Fodder
- 4. Role of Algae in Industries
- 5. Medicinal Uses of Algae
- 6. Algae Used as Food in Space
- 7. Algae in Sewage Disposal
- 8. Biological Indicator
- 9. Negative Effects
Economic Importance of Algae
- Algae includes a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic marine and fresh water organisms, all of which engage in the process of photosynthesis.
- These are economically important in many ways.
- Economic importance of algae, used as a food source, as fodder, in fish farming, and as a fertilizer.
- Economic importance of algae, plays a key role in alkaline land reclaiming, soil binding, and is used in a variety of commercial products.
- In the following, we will discuss the economic importance of algae
1. Algae Used as Food
- Algae species are used as food in several countries and in several forms. Approximately 25% of daily diet in China and Japan consists of seaweeds.
- Algae species have rich in proteins, vitamins (A, B, C and E), lipids, and minerals.
- Algae like Porphyra tenera, Laminaria, Alaria, Arthrothamu are commonly used as vegetables.
- Chlorella is utilized for making pastries, cakes, sandwiches
- Spirogyra and Oedogonium are popularly used as nutrient supplements in India.
- Laminaria used as an iodine source.
- Nostoc communae is boiled and used as soup in China.
2. Agricultural Importance
- Blue green soil algae are help for nitrogen fixation in the soil.
- Some important soil cyanobacteria are Tolipothrix tenius, Aulosira fertilissima, Anabaenopsis, Oscillatoria, Anabaena, Nostoc, Spirulina and Cylindrospermum.
- Cyanobacteria neutralize the alkalinity and increase fertility of the soil.
- Sea weeds are used as biofertilizers.
- In Rajasthan, blue green algae Spirulina and Anabaena are cultured commercially in Sambhar Lake and are used as manure by local farmers.
- Concentrated liquid extracts of sea weeds are sold as fertilizers and insecticides.
3. Algae Used as Fodder
- Algae with its nutrient content makes cheap but high protein food for animals.
- Several countries use various types of algae to feed their animals such as cows, pigs, poultry, etc.
- Rhodymenia palmata is used as food for sheep in Narvey.
- Laminaria saccharina, Pelvitia, Ascophyllum, etc. species are used as food for cattle.
- In many countries factories have been established to process the seaweed into suitable cattle-feed.
- Microalgae and other types are used as feed for aquarium fishes.
- Diatoms are a popular choice for aquatic animals.
4. Role of Algae in Industries
- Algae are a valuable source for many commercial products and are widely used in industries.
- Agar-agar obtained from red algae (Gelidium, Gracilaria and Gigartina) used extensively in microbiology laboratories
- Algin found in the middle lamella and primary walls of brown algae and used in about 80% of commercial products.
- Carrageenin obtained from Chondrus crispus, Gigartina stellata and Iridaea laminaroides. It is used in textile industry, paper making, cosmetics, shoe-polishes, tooth paste etc.
- Diatomite is popularly known as diatomaceous earth which is used in oil filtration, sugar industries, sound proof rooms etc.
- Kelp ash (Brown algae) is the source of iodine, soda and potash.
- Funori it is a type of glue obtained from Gloiopeltis furcata used in cosmetic industry for curling of hairs & dyeing, also used as sizing agent in paper and textile industry.
5. Medicinal Uses of Algae
- Algae has been used for medicinal purposes since time immemorial.
- Ancient literature of China revealed the use of Laminaria sp. for the treatment of goiter.
- An antibiotic chlorellin is obtained from Chorella.
- Agar agar is an important algal product obtained from red algae used in the manufacture of pills and ointments by pharmaceutical industries
- Carrageenin and alginic acid acts as blood coagulant.
- Extracts of Digenea, Codium, Alsidium and Durvillea are effective vermifuge
- Nitella and Chara are effective mosquito repellents.
6. Algae Used as Food in Space
- Algae are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
- Provide essential nutrients for astronauts during long missions.
- Algae can be cultivated in space with minimal resources.
- They require less land and water compared to traditional crops.
- Chlorella (space algae), Scenedesmus and Synchococcus are used as food source for space travelers.
- These algae are very rich in proteins (single cell protein) and multiply rapidly and thus synthesize a rich harvest of food utilizing carbon dioxide and liberating sufficient oxygen as a byproduct for use.
7. Algae in Sewage Disposal
- Species of Chlamydomonas, Chlorella, Scendesmus and Euglena are used in sewage tanks for providing effective, rapid and cheap means of converting the sewage into an odourless and valuable fertilizer.
- These tanks promote growth of algae in the expense of sewage and these algae photosynthesize and thus produce oxygen for the microorganisms.
- These microorganisms decompose the organic matter of sewage.
8. Biological Indicator
- Algae are very sensitive. If there is a slight change in the environment their pigments changes or might get died.
- Water pollution is checked with the help of Algae like Euglena and Chlorella.
- A sudden bloom of blue-green algae in a lake can indicate nutrient pollution.
- Stauroneis phoeniceneteron, Sureilla linearis, S. delicatissima, and Acanthes affinis are indicators of iron pollution.
- Indicators of paper mill wastes: Ulothrix zonata, Scendesmus bijuga, Oscillatoria splendid, Cymbella vantricosa.
- Indicators of phenoilic wastes: Acanthus affinis, Ceratoneis arcus, Cocconeis placentula
9. Negative Effects
- Toxicity: Many algae produces toxins which can cause the death of aquatic animals. Toxins produced by Prymnesium parvum, Gymnodinium, Microcystis, Gonyaulax can lead to death of fishes and other aquatic animals. Anabaena and Microcystis cause gastric troubles.
- Parasitism: Cephaleuros, a green algae, is parasitic in nature and cause red rust of tea. Polysiphonia fastigata is parasitic on brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum.
- Damage: Some seaweeds grow on metalic and wood work of ships and boats causing fouling, corroding and destruction. Some algae grow on wall of historical buildings and monuments and spoil them.
Rajkumar
A dedicated lecturer in botany, a skilled writer and a talented visual artist from Tamil Nadu, India.