Abstract: Glutamic acid has been conventionally used as a nitrogen source for the medium in studying ergometrine production by ergot organisms in submerged culture. The high price of glutamic acid, however, is a serious disadvantage for large scale production of ergot alkaloids. Thus we attempted to select several cheaper and easily obtainable natural subatances for the substitution of glutamic acid.It was shown through our experiments that crucian carp (Carassius suratus) meal and silver carp (Hypaphthalmichths molitrix) meal were most effective, resulting in pronounced increase of ergot alkaloid production as compared with glutamic acid.Different concentration of crucian carp meal were tested. It was found that the 4% meal gave best results, with total alkaloid and ergometrine production of 0.0185% and 0.0115% respestively.Using crucian carp meal as the nitrogen source in 200-liter submerged fermentors, the ergot orgamism (Strain Ge-3-45) started to produce ergot alkaloid on the 4th day. The amount of the total alkaloid and ergometrine reached maximum, 0.2034% and 0.01781% in filtrate(0.1609% and 0.0495% in mycelium) respectively, after about 11 days fermentation.It may be concluded that crucian carp meal is a Letter nitrogen source than glutamic acid for the production of ergot alkaloid in submerged culture, not only for its greater enchancement of the production of ergometrine but also for its availability and inexpensiveness.