rocking tray for agricultural model experiments with mass cultures of microscopic algae under field conditions

• Published in: British phycological journal Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 21 - 26
• Main Authors: Payer, H.D, Polsiri, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.1982
• Subjects: aquatic habitat; aquatic plants; plant ecology
• ISSN: 0007-1617; 2331-2238
• DOI: 10.1080/00071618200650041

A simple rocking device (10-17 oscillations min -1 ) using open plastic trays (0·05-0·5 m 2 ) was constructed and tested for experimental cultures of microalgae. The culture apparatus was useful for comparative productivity measurements. Optimum depth for the algae cultures was 2-3 cm. Partial cover of the rocking tray cultures by translucent polyacrylate sheets simulated tropical temperature conditions in the cultures under the climatic conditions of Germany. The rocking trays were successfully applied to screening for algae of high yield during several years under the climatic conditions of tropical Thailand. If the nutrient supply is saturating, the yields of this culture apparatus correspond well to those of technical mass cultures of microalgae.