Azolla the Super -Plant

Azolla is one of the waterborne blue green algae or fern which is mainly used as organic fertilizer in rice field in many part of world. Azolla floats on the surface of water by means of numerous, small, closely-overlapping scale-like leaves, with their roots hanging in the water. They form a symbiotic relationship with the cyan bacterium Anabaena azollae, which fixes atmospheric nitrogen, giving the plant access to the essential nutrient. This has led to the plant being dubbed a "super-plant", as it can readily colonize areas of freshwater, and grow at great speed - doubling its biomass every two to three days.

Azolla leaves have small vacuum in upper part which consist of Blue green algae called as “ANABINA AZOLLY” which fixes nitrogen from surrounding environment. There is symbiosis between Azolla & blue green algae in which nitrogen required for Azolla provided by blue green algae & algae requires some essential nutrients from Azolla. As far as use of Azolla for milch animal is concerned, now a day’s, there is much attention on the aspect of animal nutrition and Azolla. Azolla has abundant amount of proteins & vitamins.

Azolla consist 25 to 35% proteins as well as Ferrous, Copper, Magnesium in good proportion than that of ordinary fodder grasses, if we use Azolla in feed of milch animals then milk production will increase.

It has also high palatability making it a boon to the dairy farmers, Azolla with its high protein content has good potential to replace the proportions of concentrate feed used as part of daily diet of dairy animals.

As part of pilot experiments it is also observed that by feeding 1 kg of Azolla there is jump of 1-2 liters of milk yield per cow.

Translating the same economically to the farmer, per serving he can save on the concentrate feed and get more milk with more returns?

Daily feeding Azolla increases the protein content of the milk and will provide better nutrition to the cattle.

How to grow it:

Choose a shady place; prepare a pit of 10x10 ft with 20 inches depth, clean the edges and base of the pit should be kept level. Put the plastic paper over the pit to stretch to the bottom sides so that it forms a structure of water holding tank. Elevate the edges using mud or bricks so to prevent from flooding. Secure the sides of the plastics with hard stones or heavy materials. Pore water in the tank to the brim and mix it with 5 kgs of fertile mud.

Prepare dung mixture with 5 kg cow dung, 30 gm super phosphate with 20 liters of water.

Introduce the dung mixture into the pond and stir well so that the contents are thoroughly mixed. Add 1- 2 kg of pure Azolla culture (Can be borrowed by neighboring farmers or from local agriculture colleges).

Frogs can spoil the harvest by eating the roots of Azolla; hence cover the pit with a net so that frogs can’t enter.

Within 20-25 days Azolla will cover the entire pond with thick growth, from then you can harvest 1 kg of Azolla each day preferable starting with the corners.

Every 10 days introduce the dung mixture and maintain the water levels in the pond.