AZOLLA A BIOFERTILIZER FOR HEALTHY PADDY CROP AND A PROTEIN RICH ANIMAL FEED SUPPLEMENT
BBRG. Vijaya Lakshmi*, Dr. N. Nagavardhanam and G. Rani
ABSTRACT
Azolla is a small aquatic free floating fern belongs to family Salviniaceae. Azolla hosts an endosymbiotic filamentous, nitrogen-fixing, blue green alga Anabaena azollae on dorsal cavity of the leaves which belongs to family Salviniaceae. The fern appears as green mat over water. Anabaena azollae is responsible for the fixation and assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen and to maintain soil fertility. Azolla in turn provides the food source and favorable environment for the growth and development of the alga. Because of symbiotic relationship this plant gained interests of botanists and agriculturists for years. Since the Azolla-Anabaena combination grows in aquatic condition and provide potential nitrogen source for flooded crops it could introduce in the crop fields such as rice as bio-fertilizer and acts as nitrogen fertilizer factories. Azolla is grown for two to three weeks in flooded fields and grow at great speed doubling its biomass every two or three days. It maintains soil fertility and crop productivity. Azolla is not only a bio-fertiliser but also a good sustainable food resource to cattle, poultry and ducks. The use of Azolla may be an important factor in the world’s future food needs and may play an important role in reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuel based fertilizers. At present, Azolla is grown as a green manure in many rice producing areas and becoming quite popular among the farmers of West Godavari district particularly in Pedavegi, Denduluru and Unguturu mandals because it is eco-friendly nature. Present paper emphasizes on the cultivation and application of Azolla by farmers of West Godavari District.
Keywords: Azolla, Anabaena azollae, Nitrogen-fixing, Bio-fertilizer, Symbiotic, Animal feed.
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