AZOLLA – A Little Ferm with Massive Green Potential

Azolla is a unique freshwater fern that is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet which grows free floating on fresh water with numerous small closely overlapping scale like water repellent leaves with their roots hanging in the water.

Introduction:

The importance of Azolla was first discovered in China due to its nitrogen fixing capability. There have been records of Azolla being widely used as a bio-fertilizer in various local reports in China and Vietnam in 17^th century. It is popular and cultivated widely in countries like India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines although India is yet to realise the potential of Azolla and take up the use of this super plant in a big way.

Azolla is an extraordinary aquatic weed rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B12 and Beta- Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries and minerals like calcium, phosphorous, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium etc. On a dry weight basis, it contains 25 – 35 percent protein, 10 – 15 percent minerals and 7 – 10 percent of amino acids, bio-active substances and bio-polymers.

Azolla is an effective bio-fertilizer for coffee, areca, coconut, pepper, banana and other crops grown in natural tree-shade environment due to its unique nitrogen fixation capability. It can be added directly to plants or can be mixed with organic manure or soil. With the rising prices of chemical fertilizers, Azolla is a wonderful bio-fertilizer which is cost effective and a boon to farmers with its rich nutrient contents.

**Thus AZOLLA is famously known as GREEN NITROGEN FERTILIZER & GREEN GOLDMINE**

Application of Azolla as fresh green manure to COFFEE

Growing Azolla:
Azolla can be grown by preparing a water storage medium using Silpauline sheets or any other shallow pit which can store water. All corners of the pit should be at the same level so that a uniform water level can be maintained. Store water up to a height of 0.5 feet. Place a small amount of fresh Azolla inside the water. This will multiply rapidly and cover the entire growing medium in about 10-15 days.

Growing medium prepared using Silpauline sheet

Maintenance:

Add any kind of organic matter like cow dung or fertile soil in to the water stored to facilitate rapid multiplication
Maintain shade up to 70% using shade net or any natural shade.
Water level should be maintained during rainy season.
It is advised to change the water and the organic matter once a month.
Addition of cow dung once in 5 days will result in rapid multiplication.

A pit of dimension 15x10x0.5 feet will fetch around 50 kilograms of Azolla every week.

Shade Maintenance using shade net

Shade maintenance using polythene sheets

Maintaining fresh water growing medium Maintaining fresh water growing medium

A pit of dimension 15x10x0.5 feet will fetch around 50 kilograms of wet Azolla per week

Uses:

Azolla is an ideal feed for cattle, fish, pigs and poultry with its high nutrient composition and very low carbohydrate and fat content thus, an efficient and effective livestock feed which is easy to digest
It is a nutrient rich ingredient useful in preparation of organic manure/ compost/ Jeevamrutha since it has an excellent carbon nitrogen ratio which accelerates the decomposition of other organic residues
Highly economical bio-fertilizer which is easy to produce and a great source of nitrogen. It is useful for all types of crops like vegetables, plantation crops and horticultural crops which improves productivity up to 15-20% and considerably increases soil fertility
Using Azolla as fresh green manure supplies about 40-50 kgs of nitrogen and 1500-2000 kgs of organic manure to plants
It also acts as an effective natural weedicide by controlling weed up to 70%
It is a remarkable sequester of green house gas carbon dioxide which helps reduce the threat of climate change