1. 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.

2. Azolla as a component of INM HOMESTEAD AZOLLA CULTIVATION

3. 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

4. Azolla dual with rice can save 50 % of nitrogen requirement Field multiplication Rice-Azolla AZOLLA RICE DUAL CULTURE

5. AZOLLA DUAL CROPPING WITH RICE Treatment Grain yield (q/ha) % increase over control Control13.8----- 50 % NPK + Azolla compost @10t/ha23.544.6 50 % NPK + Azolla dual cropping29.554.5 50 % NPK + Azolla @ 10 t/ha26.651.4 Azolla dual cropping22.341.4 100 % NPK25.249.1 AZOLLA DUAL CROPPING ENHANCE YIELD BY 41 PER CENT OVER NO AZOLLA TREATMENT

6. Azolla Collection Collecting on dykes Transportation Selling at market Azolla success story of S E Asia

7. MASS MULTIPLICATION OF AZOLLA HOMESTEAD 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

8. FIELD METHOD FOR AZOLLA MULTIPLICATION Prepare and level the field uniformly Divide the field into 20x5m providing suitable bunds & irrigation channel Maintain 10 cm water depth Add 10 kg cowdung+8kg Azolla+100 gm SSP /plot Harvest after 15 days

9. 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…

10. 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

11. ASSESSMENT Q. 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.

12. ASSESSMENT Model answers : i) True ii) True iii) False iv) True v) True

13. 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