http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_biofertiIizertechnoIogy.

htmI#AzoIIa

AzoIIa - The best feed for cattIe and pouItry

Azolla is a free floating water fern that floats in water and fixes nitrogen in association with the nitrogen
fixing blue green algae, Anabaena azollae Azolla is considered to be a potential biofertilizer in terms of
nitrogen contribution to rice Long before its cultivation as a green manure, Azolla has been used as a
fodder for domesticated animals such as pigs and ducks n recent days, Azolla is very much used as a
sustainable feed substitute for livestock especially dairy cattle, poultry, piggery and fish
Azolla contains 25 35 per cent protein on dry weight basis and rich in essential amino acids, minerals,
vitamins and carotenoids including the antioxidant b carotene Cholorophyll a, chlorophyll b and
carotenoids are also present in Azolla, while the cyanobiont Anabaena azollae contains cholorophyll a,
phycobiliproteins and carotenoids The rare combination of high nutritive value and rapid biomass
production make Azolla a potential and effective feed substitute for live stocks
nputs required
Azolla fronds, Polythene sheet, Super phosphate and Cow dung
MethodoIogy
The area selected for Azolla nursery should be partially shaded The convenient size for Azolla is 10 feet
length, 2 feet breadth and 1 feet depth The nursery plot is spread with a polythene sheet at the bottom to
prevent water loss Soil is applied to a depth of 2 cm and a gram of super phosphate is applied along with
2 kg of vermicompost or cow dung in the nursery for quick growth Azolla mother inoculum is introduced
@ 5 kg/plot
The contents in the plot are stirred daily so that the nutrients in the soil dissolve in water for easy uptake
by Azolla Azolla is harvested fifteen days after inoculation at the rate of 50-80 kg / plot One third of
Azolla should be left in the plot for further multiplication Five kg cow dung slurry should be sprinkled in
the Azolla nursery at ten days intervals Neem oil can be sprayed over the Azolla at 05 5 level to avoid
pest incidence
AnimaI Dosage / day
Adult cow , Buffalo,
Bullock
15-2 kg
Layer, Broiler birds 20 30 grams
Goat 300 500 grams
Pig 15 20 kg
Rabbit 100 gram
'aIue of the technoIogy
The egg yield is increased in layer birds due to Azolla feeding The Azolla fed birds register an overall egg
productivity of 890 per cent as against 83 per cent recorded by the birds fed with only concentrated
feed The average daily intake of concentrated feed is considerably low (1060 g) for birds due to Azolla
substitution as against 1220 g in the control birds More impotantly Azolla feeding shows considerable
amount of savings in the consumption of concentrated feed (130 %) leading to reduced operational cost
By considering the average cost of the concentrated feed as Rs 1/ Kg, a 130 % saving in the
consumption ultimately leads to a feed cost savings of 100 paise /day/ bird and hence a layer unit
maintaining 10,000 birds could cut down its expense towards feed to a tune of rs1000/day
Benefits
The Azolla feeding to layer birds increase egg weight, albumin, globulin and carotene contents The total
protein content of the eggs laid by the Azolla fed birds is high and the total carotene content of Azolla
eggs(440 g 100 g-1 of edible portion)is also higher than the control The rapid biomass production due to
the high relative growth rate, increased protein and carotene contents and good digestability of the Azolla
hybrid Rong ping favour its use as an effective feed supplement to poultry birds
Effect of AzoIIa hybrid Rong Ping on the nutritionaI vaIue of egg
Parameters 4, egg ontroI
percentage
increase over
controI
Egg weight (g) 6120 540 662
Albumin (g /100 g of edible portion) 39 34 140
Globulin (g /100 g of edible portion) 101 95 631
Total protein (g/ 100 g of edible portion) 140 129 852
Carotenes (g / 100 g of edible portion) 440 405 864
AppIication
n ndian conditions, agriculture is very much coupled with poultry farming Azolla is an important low cost
input, which plays a vital role in improving soil quantity in sustainable rice farming The twin potentials as
biofertilizer and animal feed make the water fern Azolla as an effective input to both the vital components
of integrated farming, agricultural and animalo husbandry
Limitation
Azolla is a water fern and requires a growth temperature of 35-38 C The multiplication of Azolla is
affected under elevated temperature Hence adopting this technology in dry zones where the temperature
exceeds 40c is difficult

http://hindu.com/2001/03/08/stories/08080027.htm

Growing azolla as livestock feed

By Our Agriculture Correspondent
A SIMPLE and low-cost technology to grow azolla, the
aquatic Iern, has been developed by the Technology
Resource Centre oI the Natural Resources Development
Project (NARDEP), an organ oI Vivekananda Kendra in
Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
This method will be particularly useIul Ior dairy Iarmers, according to Dr. Kamalasanan Pillai,
Biotechnology Consultant at NARDEP.
It has been well established that azolla is an ideal Ieed substitute, and NARDEP has ventured
into developing a low-cost mass multiplication technology Ior azolla in Iarmers' holdings to meet
the livestock needs.
In this method, an artiIicial pond made oI silpauline sheets oI 2,6 m by 1.6 m is used to grow
azolla. Initially a pit oI 2 m long, 1 m wide and 20 cm deep is dug under a tree shade.
The pit is Iirst covered by used plastic sacs in order to prevent the growth oI the roots oI trees
nearby, which may puncture the silpauline sheets, according to Dr. Pillai.
The silpauline sheet is laid over the pit avoiding any Iolds. About 10 to 15 kg oI sieved Iertile
soil is uniIormly spread over the sheet. One kg oI cowdung mixed in 10 litres oI water is poured
over it.
Powdered rock phosphate should be added along with the cow dung slurry at a rate oI 10 to 20 g
per pit. Water should be poured into the pond to a depth oI 10 cm. Then 0.5 to 1 kg oI pure
culture oI azolla is inoculated in the pond.In about 10 to 15 days, azolla will Iill up the pond, and
daily 0.5 to 1 kg Iresh azolla can be harvested there aIter. About 10 g oI super phosphate or rock
phosphate and 500 g oI cow dung should be added once every Iive days to keep azolla in rapid
multiplication phase and to maintain a production oI one kg per pond every day.
Micronutrient mixture containing magnesium, iron, copper, sulphur and others should be added
to the azolla pond at weekly intervals to enhance the mineral content oI azolla.
In this method the cost oI azolla production worked out to less than 50 paise per kg. Care should
be taken to retain the temperature below 25 degrees Celsius. Shade nets can be used to cut the
light intensity.
The azolla biomass should be removed daily to avoid over crowding. The pH oI the pond should
be maintained between 5.5 and 7.0.
Azolla should be protected Irom pests and diseases by adopting suitable and need-based plant
protection measures. Suitable nutrients should be supplies whenever deIiciency symptoms are
maniIested.
Fresh inoculation oI azolla should be done at least once in Iour months aIter draining and
cleaning the pond. Fresh ponds should be prepared and inoculated with pure azolla culture when
contamination oI lemna and other competing algae and pests and diseases are noticed, according
to Dr. Pillai.
AIter harvesting, the Iresh azolla should be washed thoroughly to get rid oI cow dung smell.
Washing in a net will be useIul as it will allow small plantlets to get out, and they can be poured
back in to the pond.
The cleaned azolla can be mixed with equal quantity oI commercial Ieed, and the mixture can be
directly Ied to dairy cattle and pig. For poultry, azolla can be Ied as such. For Iish also it can be
Ied directly by broadcasting it in the Iishponds and tanks.Azolla has 50 to 60 per cent protein (on
dry weight basis), and is rich in almost all essential amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin B-complex,
beta-carotene and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper and
magnesium.
The unique combination oI proteins, minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids make it a
promising and most economic Ieed substitute Ior livestock, according to Dr. Pillai.
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail