TITLE:
Impact of Diversified Water Sources and Effluents on the Photosynthetic Efficiency of Chlorella sp.
AUTHORS:
Marilyn B. Areola, Lesley C. Lubos, Quini Gine W. Areola, Sonnie A. Vedra
Page: 48-60 Vol: 20 Issue: 01 Year: 2025
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the effects of water from Mandulog River, a nearby creek, and piggery effluent on the photosynthetic rate of Chlorella sp. An improvised manometer, constructed using U-shaped tubes, colored water, cardboard, and mm-ruled graphing paper, were used to measure the photosynthetic rate of Chlorella sp. Measurements were taken by recording the rise of colored water in the left arm of the U-tube at 6-hour intervals over a 48-hour period. The rate of photosynthesis was calculated as the total photosynthetic activity divided by the observation time. The results revealed that piggery effluent produced the highest photosynthetic rate, averaging 14.82 mm/hr, while water from the creek resulted in the lowest rate at 0.11 mm/hr. A significant increase in the number of Chlorella cells was observed in piggery effluent after 48 hours. No significant difference (P value >0.05) was found between the photosynthetic rates of the water sourced from Mandulog River and the control (mineral water). This suggests similar photosynthetic activity in these two water conditions. However, the photosynthetic rate of Chlorella sp. in piggery effluent was significantly higher compared to the control. Hence, it is recommended that a detailed analysis of the nutrient composition of piggery effluent will be conducted to identify the specific factors contributing to the increased photosynthetic rate.
Keywords:
Chlorella sp. effluents, improvised manometer, photosynthetic rate, piggery, river
Received: 19 December 2024
Accepted: 24 January 2025
Published: 31 January 2025
