ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Identifying the Environmental Factors
that Determine the Agar Content of Seaweed
Gracilaria verrucosa in Acid Sulfate
Soil-Affected Brackishwater Ponds
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1
Research Center for Fisheries, National Research and Innovation Agency; Jl. Raya Bogor KM. 47 Cibinong,
Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia
2
Research Center for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency;
Jl. Raya Bogor KM. 47 Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia
3
Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension; Jl. Makmur Dg. Sitakka 129 Turikale,
Maros 90512, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Submission date: 2023-09-05
Final revision date: 2023-12-07
Acceptance date: 2024-01-08
Online publication date: 2024-05-10
Publication date: 2024-06-07
Corresponding author
Akhmad Mustafa
Research Center for Fisheries, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Bogor KM. 47 Cibinong,, 16911, Bogor, Indonesia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(4):4673-4686
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ABSTRACT
This study was carried out with the aim to identify the characteristics and determine the direct
or indirect effect of soil and water quality on the agar content of seaweed Gracilaria verrucosa in acid
sulfate soil (ASS)-affected brackishwater ponds in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The study
was conducted in ponds of North Luwu and Sinjai Regencies. The soil quality is defined as the independent
or exogenous variable; the water quality as an intermediate, dependent, or endogenous variable; as well
as the agar content of seaweed as a dependent or endogenous variable. The influence of environmental
factors was identified through path analysis applications. In general, the water quality can support
the culture of seaweed in ponds. The results of the research showed that of the 17 soil quality variables
analyzed, 2 variables were found, namely Fe content and pHKCl which influenced the agar content
of seaweed. Another result was that of the 9 water quality variables, and 2 variables were also found,
namely salinity and NO3- content which influenced the agar content of seaweed. Soil Fe can reduce the
agar content while soil pHKCl, salinity, and water NO3- content can increase the agar content of seaweed
in ASS ponds in South Sulawesi.