Effectiveness of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) Absorption and Growth Performance of Gracilaria sp., Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Caulerpa sp. in Shrimp Aquaculture Wastewater

Supardi, Nurhani; Nirmala, Kukuh; Supriyono, Eddy; Syah, Rachman

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2025.367337.5533

Effectiveness of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) Absorption and Growth Performance of Gracilaria sp., Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Caulerpa sp. in Shrimp Aquaculture Wastewater

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Departmen of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia

² National Research, and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Bogor, Jawa Barat 16911, Indonesia

10.21608/ejabf.2025.367337.5533

Abstract

Intensive shrimp farming produces nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) waste, which can cause eutrophication and decrease water quality if not managed properly. Therefore, an effective bioremediation strategy is required to reduce the negative impact of aquaculture waste. Seaweed is an aquatic organism capable of absorbing nutrients from water, making it a potential bioremediation agent in sustainable aquaculture. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of N and P absorption and the growth performance of Gracilaria sp., Kappaphycus alvarezii, and Caulerpa sp. in treating shrimp culture wastewater. The research method used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replications. Data on nutrient absorption rates and seaweed growth were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 95% confidence level, followed by Duncan's Advanced Test. The results showed that Caulerpa sp. had the highest daily growth rate and nutrient absorption efficiency compared to Gracilaria sp. and K. alvarezii (P<0.05). Caulerpa sp. demonstrated superior ability in absorbing nitrogen, with a phosphate absorption rate of 0.093 mg/m²/day, significantly higher than Gracilaria sp. at 0.029 mg/m²/day (P<0.05). With its superior bioremediation ability, Caulerpa sp. has the potential to be a natural solution for managing shrimp aquaculture wastewater, improving the sustainability of aquaculture systems, and reducing environmental pollution.

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