INTRODUCTION

Azolla an aquatic fern is regarded as “Live

Nitrogen Manufacturing Factory” because, it

harbors nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria. Azolla has

been extensively used both as biofertilizer and

green manuring for rice cultivation in the South

East Asian countries. More than 50 % nitrogen can

be supplemented when Azolla dual cropped with

rice.

Azolla as a component of INM

HOMESTEAD AZOLLA CULTIVATION

Azolla fern is “Live Nitrogen Manufacturing Factory”

Harbors N fixing Cyanobacteria Anabaena azollae.

Extensively used as biofertilizer and green manuring

for rice cultivation

Azolla has very fast growing character

It doubles its biomass in 3-5 days

Azolla fixes 40-60 kg N/ha in rice crop

Azolla dual cropping enhance rice yield by 55 % and

supplement nitrogen by 50 %

CHARACTERISTICS OF AZOLLA

Azolla dual with rice

can save 50 % of

nitrogen

requirement

Field multiplicationRice-Azolla

AZOLLA RICE DUAL CULTURE

AZOLLA DUAL CROPPING WITH RICEAZOLLA DUAL CROPPING WITH RICE

Treatment  

Grain yield(q/ha)

% increaseover control

Control 13.8 -----

50 % NPK + Azolla compost @10t/ha 23.5 44.6

50 % NPK + Azolla dual cropping 29.5 54.5

50 % NPK + Azolla @ 10 t/ha 26.6 51.4

Azolla dual cropping 22.3 41.4

100 % NPK 25.2 49.1

AZOLLA DUAL CROPPING ENHANCE YIELD BY 41

PER CENT OVER NO AZOLLA TREATMENT

Azolla Collection Azolla Collection

Collecting on dykesTransportation

Selling at market

Azolla success story of S E Asia

MASS MULTIPLICATION OF AZOLLAMASS MULTIPLICATION OF AZOLLA

HOMESTEAD METHODHOMESTEAD METHOD

Prepare pit 2m length,1m width & 20cm depth

Spread polythene sheet (2.6mx1.6m) over the pit

Add SSP (10g), MOP (10g) , dry cow dung (100g) & Azolla 300 g

Mud plastering the surroundings & pour water level (10 cm )

Multiply for 15 days. Harvest and repeat the above procedure

FIELD METHOD FOR AZOLLA MULTIPLICATION

Prepare and level the field Prepare and level the field uniformlyuniformly

Divide the field into 20x5m Divide the field into 20x5m providing suitable bunds & providing suitable bunds & irrigation channelirrigation channel

Maintain 10 cm water depthMaintain 10 cm water depth

Add 10 kg cowdung+8kg Add 10 kg cowdung+8kg Azolla+100 gm SSP /plotAzolla+100 gm SSP /plot

Harvest after 15 daysHarvest after 15 days

LET US SUM UP

Azolla is an aquatic fern and it harbors nitrogen

fixing Cyanobacterial symbiont Anabaena azollae.

Azolla has been extensively used both as

biofertilizer and green manuring for rice cultivation

in the South East Asian countries.

Azolla dual cropping with rice along with 50%

recommended fertilizers could enhance rice yield by

55 % over control.

contd…

contd…

More than 50 % nitrogen can be supplemented when

Azolla dual cropped with rice.

Cost effective Azolla multiplication can be done both

under homestead and field methods.

Azolla can also be used as organic feed supplement

ASSESSMENTQ. Write true or false :

i) Azolla is used extensively as biofertilizer for rice

ii) Azolla can be regarded both as biofertilizer as well as

green manure crop

iii) Azolla-rice dual culture is very prevalent in South

Asian coutries.

iv) Azolla can supplement about 50 % of nitrogen

requirement by the rice crop

v) Azolla can be mass multiplied using low cost

technology.

ASSESSMENT

Model answers :

i) True

ii) True

iii) False

iv) True

v) True

REFERENCES

i) Soil Microbiology – N. S.Subba Rao

ii) Advances in Microbiology – N. S.Subba Rao

iii) Bio-fertilizer and Organic Farming – NIIR Board

iv) Nitrogen fixing organisms

(Pure and applied aspects) – J. I. Sprent and

P. Sprent