Analysis of Growth Efficiency and Daily Growth Rate of Seaweed (G. verrucosa, G. lichenoides, and G. gigas) at Various Salinity Levels Based on the Final Weight-to-Initial Weight Ratio

This study investigated the effects of salinity variation on the growth efficiency and daily growth rates of three commercially important seaweed species: Gracilaria verrucosa, G. lichenoides, and G. gigas. The experimental design tested five salinity levels (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 ppt) under controlled conditions during an 8-week cultivation period. Growth parameters were measured weekly, and data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test. Results from the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no significant effect of either salinity variation or seaweed species on growth efficiency and daily growth rate (p>0.05). Although observable differences in mean ranks occurred, these variations were not statistically significant. These findings conclude that all three Gracilaria species exhibit similar growth patterns across various salinity levels, demonstrating their adaptability to salinity changes without significant impacts on growth efficiency and daily growth rate. Further research should investigate other environmental factors such as nutrient availability, light intensity, and temperature to optimize cultivation conditions