ecology of azolla spp

Azolla spp. Azolla pinnata can spread very quickly forming dense vegetative masses on areas of still water. ... Azolla lives in symbiosis with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), taking advantage of their ability to fix nitrogen. It is sometimes introduced and used by farmers as a natural fertilizer for this reason.

What is the scientific name of Azolla?

Azolla pinnata (mosquito fern)

Where does Azolla grow?

Azolla may also be referred to as red azolla, feathered mosquito fern, water velvet or African azolla and has a native range extending from Africa to India, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Is Azolla an invasive species?

Azolla has been designated as an invasive species in some regions or countries. It is essential to not introduce any species or subspecies of azolla into regions or countries where it has been designated as an invasive species. ... The ISC lists three azolla species in its compendium of invasive species.

What is Azolla in microbiology?

Azolla is a free-floating water fern and has agronomic importance due to its ability to fix nitrogen (Singh 1977). ... In Asia, Azolla is the most commonly used green manure for rice crop, due to its high growth rate, nitrogen-fixing capacity and ability to scavenge nutrients from soil and water.

Is Azolla good for chicken?

Poultry and in particular ducks and chickens can be raised on a diet including fresh azolla. It has long been recognized as a feed for wildfowl in the USA and for domesticated ducks in China and it has been used as a feed to domestic fowl in Vietnam (Dao & Tran, 1966).

What are benefits of Azolla?

Food and animal feed

Azolla is rich in protein, 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.

How long does Azolla take to grow?

On the following day, spread around 200 g of fresh Azolla inoculum over the surface of the water. It takes about 2 weeks for Azolla to form a mat over the water surface. Water level in the tank should be maintained especially during summer months.

How do I farm Azolla?

Growing (Production) of Azolla: Mix clean fertile soil with cow dung and water and spread across (uniformly) the pond. To cover the 6 feet X 4 feet pond, 1 kg of fresh Azolla culture is required. Apply this culture uniformly in the pond. Make sure to have the water depth at least 5 to 6 inches in the pond.

How fast does a Azolla grow?

Azolla is a highly productive plant. It doubles its biomass in 3-10 days, depending on conditions, and yield can reach 8-10 t fresh matter/ha in Asian rice fields.

Can you eat Azolla?

“Though Azolla is nutrient rich, it is a fern that lives in symbiosis with a cyanobacteria and it is still unclear how healthy it for humans to eat it. It could be really healthy but it could also not be. Azolla is commonly used as animal fodder but no studies have been done on humans.”

Is Azolla good for fish?

Azolla pinnata as a fresh feed, in combination with a food level of natural feeding, can be beneficial to fish production [18]. Therefore, it could be an excellent inexpensive feed for B. gonionotus. Dried and processed Azolla have been tested as feed ingredient in a number of fish species (e.g., tilapia, carp, etc.)

How do I get rid of Azolla in my pond?

All types of Azolla can be effectively controlled by using “Free Floating Aquatic Weed Control” spray. This spray is easy to apply and is safe to use. It quickly affects only weeds like Azolla, Duckweed, Salvinia etc and not other water plants.

Why Azolla is used in rice cultivation?

Nitrogen is the single most limiting factor in rice cultivation, strongly affecting the crop yield. Azolla substantially increases the amount of nitrogen fertilizer available to growing rice and it is has been used for thousands of years as a 'green' nitrogen fertilizer to increase rice production.

Is Azolla an algae?

But one of the most fascinating of all plant marriages involves a tiny aquatic water fern (Azolla) and a microscopic filamentous blue-green alga or cyanobacterium (Anabaena azollae). They grow together at the surface of quiet streams and ponds throughout tropical and temperate regions of the world.

How do you use Azolla as a biofertilizer?

Mass cultivation of Azolla

Microplots (20m²) are prepared in nurseries in which sufficient water (5-10 cm) is added. For good growth of Azolla, 4-20 Kg P₂O₅/ha is also amended. Optimum pH (8.0) and temperature (14-30°C) should be maintained. Finally, microplots are inoculated with fresh Azolla (0.5 to 0.4 Kg/ m²).

How do you grow Azolla fast?

Slurry made of 2 kg cow dung and 30 g of Super Phosphate mixed in 10 litres of water, is poured onto the sheet. More water is poured on to raise the water level to about 10 cm. About 0.5 – 1 kg of fresh and pure culture of azolla is placed in the water. This will grow rapidly and fill the pit within 10 – 15 days.

How do you dry Azolla?

Place the Azolla on trays and sundry it for 3-7 days or until it-turns brown. Azolla is sufficiently dry when it crumbles when squeezed. 3. Grind the dried Azolla to form a powder resembling coffee.

How many times a day should I feed my chickens?

Lots of water. Feed your chickens at regular times each day. Chickens need to eat all day, so always have good quality feed in their pens. A good format to follow is to top their feed up in the mornings and let them out for 30-60 mins in the late afternoon.

Is Azolla good for ducks?

Inclusion of Azolla, a nitrogen-fixating and non-conventional nutrient source aquatic fern has been reported to increase production performance of ducks. The feeding value of Azolla has been demonstrated in different poultry species such as chicken, ducks, and quail with promising results in performance.

Can Azolla grow on land?

The growing area of Azolla may differ depending on the requirement for the farm. A pond size of dimensions 6 x 4 ft can produce 1 kg of Azolla each day for one year. The land should be thoroughly cleaned and levelled.

Is Azolla good for goats?

Azolla can be used as an ideal source of feed for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and fish as an alternate source to a concentrate/ feed/fodder to improve the production status of the animals.

How do I get Azolla seeds?

There is no use of buying Azolla seeds through online. They are not at all raised. waste of money.
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AZOLLA Azolla Seed (1 per packet)

Brand	AZOLLA
Suitable For	Outdoor
Type of Seed	Herb
Organic	Yes