_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: sandraezeani@gmail.com; sandraezeani@googlemail.com; Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology 38(4): 1-9, 2019; Article no.CJAST.51520 ISSN: 2457-1024 (Past name: British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, Past ISSN: 2231-0843, NLM ID: 101664541) Commercial Microalgae Culture in Inorganic Fertilizer Media Sandra E. Ezeani 1* and Gideon O. Abu 2 1 Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (INRES), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 2 Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author SEE designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author GOA supervised and approved the research. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/CJAST/2019/v38i430372 Editor(s): (1) Prof. Sait Engindeniz, Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Turkey. Reviewers: (1) Poloko Emmanuel Mosebi, National University of Lesotho, Lesotho. (2) Godwin Michael Ubi, University of Calabar, Nigeria. Complete Peer review History: https://sdiarticle4.com/review-history/51520 Received 11 July 2019 Accepted 26 September 2019 Published 08 November 2019 ABSTRACT Algal biomass production using relatively and locally available NPK formulated media has been identified as a key factor in commercial algal biomass production. The suitability of agricultural fertilizer as a growth medium for commercial algae cultivation was assessed using NPK 15:15:15, NPK 20:20:20 and composite medium of NPK 15:15:15+ BG11, while BG11 was used as a control medium. Microalgae Chlorella species was cultivated in these NPK formulated media at ambient temperature under solar irradiation for a period of 15 days. The cell biomass was determined by the optical density at 660nm, cell dry weight and total chlorophyll content were also determined. The maximum value for cell biomass of 0.356 mg/L, total chlorophyll content of 0.0.493 mg/ml and cell dry weight of 0.0185 mg/L achieved in the composite medium was closer to the values of 0.389 mg/L, 0.531 mg/ml and 0.2121 mg/L for cell biomass concentration, total chlorophyll content and dry cell weight respectively for BG11 medium. Although NPK 15:15:15 and NPK 20:20:20 media achieved lower values for cell biomass, total chlorophyll, and cell dry weight, there is no significant statistical difference between the media. This study suggests that inorganic fertilizer can be a relatively cost-effective and locally available substitute for commercial algae biomass production. Original Research Article