Effects on the Soil Fertility by Nitrogen Fixing Blue Green Algae

Nitrogen Fixer

• Blue green algae is one of the oldest organisms still surviving on our planet, a unique organism that has the ability both to photosynthesize and fix nitrogen. This makes it both perfectly adapted to survive most any condition and potentially quite useful to farmers looking to improve the quality of their soil. Nitrogen fixers break down enzymes containing nitrogen that are not readily accessible to plants. As a result of this breakdown, nitrogen, the most important element to plant growth, becomes readily available in the soil for the plant to uptake.

Tangible Results

• Blue green algae has proven to positively affect soil fertility in multiple examples and scientific studies, most notably in rice grain fields, where it was first experimented with. Collectively these studies have shown an average 15 to 20 percent increase in crop yield when blue green algae was inoculated into fields where grain was being grown. Research on the use of bio-fertilization using blue green algae on nutrient-depleted soils is ongoing, thus far showing positive results.

Other Effects on Soil

• Cyanobactera can provide other benefits to the soil beyond acting as a nitrogen fixer. The algae also helps to make phosphorous more available in the soil, another element important to plant growth. Upon decomposition, blue green algae provides fresh organic matter which in turn helps to promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms that further help make nutrients readily available to plants.

Shortcomings

• Though blue green algae has been purposely inoculated into soil for more than half a century and shown proven results, it has yet to be embraced by most commercial farmers in the United States and across the globe. The main reason for this is availability, as cyanobacteria is only readily available three to four months out of the year and many farmers need to fertilize their soil at times during the year when the algae is unavailable. The algae also has a low production rate and is fairly susceptible to contamination by harmful bacteria. Methods for improving these shortcomings are in development.