Hello,
Planning to grow and evaluate Azola.
Need azola seed to start .Can any one share some seed if you are already growing it around Hyderabad or share some info on where I can get it around Hyderabad.
Thanks,
Hari
Hari,
I have not heard of Seeds. Azolla belongs to Algae family so there will not be any seeds.
Everywhere it is termed as “Mother culture”. Nearest KVK or agriculture dept or Dairy Federation should provide you this.
Thanks Sri,
I meant mother culture by using term seed.
Actually azolla is an aquatic fern not an algae.
Regards,
Yaj.
Azolla floats on the surface of water by means of numerous, small, closely-overlapping scale-like leaves, with their roots hanging in the water. it can readily colonise areas of freshwater, and grow at great speed - doubling its biomass every two to three days. The only known limiting factor on its growth is phosphorus, another essential mineral. An abundance of phosphorus.
Their nitrogen-fixing capability of Azolla has led to it being widely used as a biofertiliser.
Fodder is an important requirement for cattle. Even if the animals are fed with commercial feeds from the market, fresh green grass or dry straw is a must for them as fodder availability greatly reduces the expenditure on commercial feeds.The success of a dairy plant depends largely on increasing milk production without escalation in feeding cost. Growing fodder grass is a good option.
Milk yield
Uses and Application of Azolla is as follows.
The soil is first cleared of weeds and levelled. Bricks with a length of about 10 cm are lined horizontally in a rectangular fashion.
A uv stabilised silpauline sheet of 2.5 x 1.8 mt size with 150 gm thickness is uniformly spread over the bricks in such a way as to cover the margin of the rectangle made by the bricks.
About 30-35 kg of sieved soil is uniformly spread over the silpauline pit, which will provide the primary nutrient base for Azolla.
Carbon source
About 4-5 kg of two day old cow dung is made into a slurry (fresh bio gas slurry may also be used) after mixing it in 15-20 lts of water, which provides the carbon source for Azolla.
About 40 gms of macro-nutrient mix (mixing 10kg of rock phosphate, 1.5 kg of magnesium and 20-50 gm of muriate of potash) are mixed in the slurry before pouring it into the azolla bed. (Another macro nutrient mix named Azofert can also be used).
Level of water
Water level is maintained at about 7-10 cm in the pit. Wastewater from bathroom and cattle shed can also be used to fill the pit.
Where there is a problem of fresh water availability, the water left after washing clothes (after the second rinsing) can also be used.
About 1-1.5kg of pure mother azolla culture seed material is spread uniformly over the water, after mild stirring of soil and water in the azolla bed. Fresh water should be sprinkled over the azolla immediately after inoculation to make the azolla plants upright.
In a week’s time, the azolla spreads all over the bed and develops a thick mat like appearance. Harvesting can be done every day from the 7th day onwards with the help of a plastic sieve or tray with holes at the bottom.
Cowdung and minerals removed by the azolla biomass have to be supplemented at least once in seven days. The harvested azolla should be washed in fresh water to get rid of the cow dung smell.
Mixing ratio
Fresh azolla thus collected can be mixed with commercial feed in the ratio 1:1 or given directly to livestock. It was found that the milk production in cattle increased by 10-12 per cent when they were fed with azolla and there was 20-25 per cent savings on buying commercial feeds, according to Dr. Kamalasanan Pillai, Scientist at the Institute.
Increase in body weight
Azolla can also be fed to poultry birds. It was observed that the birds grew faster and there was 10-12 per cent increase in their total body weight compared to the birds which were given only normal diet.
The egg yolk increased and the egg shell colour became glossy in appearance. In addition the azolla bed acts as a rain harvesting station and live mulch for the fields.
About 2kg of soil in the azolla bed is almost equal to about 1 kg of commercial NPK fertilizer after six months.
For Further Information Pl. Contact
MANNE.SN,B.Com.,LLB.,
Vasudha Green Farms,
09133498366.
If someone can provide some mother culture in and around hyderabad, there will be some of us interested in buying it.
I had called up NGRanga university , Rice research cell last year but they said that they could not provide any azolla…
.
Regards
vamsi