Measurement of microbial growth
The Microbial growth to determine growth rates and generation times can be measured through different techniques. Since growth leads to increase both the number and the mass of the populations either of the two may be followed. It is must to make it clear that no single technique is always best the most appropriate approach depends upon the experimental condition.
Microbiologists use the term growth to indicate an increase in a population of microbes not the size of a microbe. The Microbial growth depends upon the metabolism which is chemical reactions used by a cell to cultivate energy of nutrients that is any chemical required for growth of microbial populations. The very important of these are compounds containing oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and/or nitrogen. Lipids, proteins and carbohydrates are common nutrients used for energy cultivation. The Carbohydrates for example are obtained from the environment through heterotrophs. The Autotrophs use carbon dioxide CO2 to make their carbohydrates.