GROWTH RATE OF Kappaphycus alvarezii USING DIFFERENT METHODS OF CULTURE

The notified decline seaweed production of the Philippines must have an intervention from researchers to explore possible alternative ways to expand the farming areas in Tawi-Tawi. Hence, the study was conducted to investigate the growth of seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii using different methods of culture. The experiment was performed at Tinambak, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi for a duration of 45 days. Randomized complete block designed (RCBD) was used to arrange the 27 experimental units which composed of three treatments: floating (T1), fixed-bottom (T2), vertical line method (T3) with 9 replicates in each treatment. Other factors such as water current, temperature, salinity, pH, and water depth were monitored every three days. Results showed that floating method was highly significant in final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate and growth rate with 327.89g, 305.6g, 1.88% and 6.77%, respectively among treatments (p<0.01). Results also showed no fluctuation of water parameters observed for the whole duration of the study. Thus, floating could be an ideal method to be used for the increase production of seaweeds.