Abstract: To explore the promoting effect of Chlorella as liquid fertilizer on plant growth, Chlorella were investigated as liquid fertilizer in water culture experiment and soil culture experiment respectively. The results of water culture experiments showed that application of 0.05 g/L Chlorella NCU-2 could promote the growth of Hydrocotyle verticillata and Epipremnum aureum. Compared with that of the water control, the number of leaves increased by more than 60% and the total leaf area increased by 84.63%-367.08% on Hydrocotyle verticillata. Meanwhile, the stem length increased by more than 67.78%, and the total leaf area increased by 70.92%-123.70% on Epipremnum aureum. The results of soil culture experiments showed that application of 0.04 g Chlorella NCU-2 could promote the growth of Capsicum annuum Linn. Compared with that of the water control, the plant height and the fruit number of Capsicum annuum Linn increased by 10%, 48.48%-112.12%, respectively. After the application of Chlorella NCU-2, the contents of available potassium and organic matter in the soil increased by 11.30%-20.04%. The results implied that Chlorella NCU-2 could not only promote the growth of three plants, but also improve the soil physicochemical properties, which had a certain reference significance for further exploring the growth promoting effect of Chlorella on plants and practical application.

Key words: Chlorella, microbial fertilizer, hydroponics, Capsicum annuum Linn, soil physicochemical properties