Azolla: The Super Plant

Priyadarshini, S. K.^*

Zonal Agriculture and Horticulture Research Station, Babbur Farm, UAHS, Shimogga
Dhanalakshmi, T. N.

Zonal Agriculture and Horticulture Research Station, Babbur Farm, UAHS, Shimogga
Selva Kumar, G.

DRDO-BU, Life Sciences wing, Coimbatore

DOI: NIL

Keywords: Symbiotic plants, Nitrogen fixation, Azolla, Fern, Biofuel

Abstract

Azolla is a free-floating water fern that floats in water and fixes atmospheric nitrogen in association with nitrogen fixing blue green alga Anabaena azollae. It has ability to both fix nitrogen, finding increasing use for sustainable production of livestock feed. Azolla is rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Studies describe feeding Azolla to dairy cattle, pigs, ducks, and chickens, with reported increases in milk production, weight of broiler chickens and egg production of layers, as compared to conventional feed. One FAO study describes how Azolla integrates into a tropical biomass agricultural system, reducing the need for inputs.

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Reference

Singh, P. K., & Misra, S. P. (1982). Effect of herbicides on growth and N₂ fixation of Azolla pinnata under field conditions. J. Boil. Res., 2, 91–96.

Cagaun, A. G., Branckaert, R. D., & Van Hove, C. (2000). Integrated fish and Azolla into rice duck farming in Asia, The ICLARM Quaterly, 23(1).

www.fao.org.docrep
Agritech.tnau.ac.in.org-farm