Akshay Sarkar, Balaram Sarkar, Barsha Sarkar and Jatindra N. Bhakta
Laboratory of Environmental & Bioresource Technology, Department of Ecological Studies & International Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, WB, India

Part of the book: Research Advancements in Organic Farming

Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.52305/FUHR5851

Abstract

The use of chemical (agro and aqua-chemicals) substances in farming practices injects various hazardous substances into the environment, which are responsible for posing severe toxic problems to environmental and human health. The application of biological /organic substances in agro-farming practices instead of chemical substances is an important and feasible solution to the above-mentioned toxic problems of the environment. Azolla (Azolla sp.) is an aquatic floating fern, that can be applied in agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture and integrated farming for supplying nutrients and other purposes. Thus, chemical substances can be replaced by the Azolla in order to overcome the problem caused by inorganic farming practices. Few researchers highlighted and reported on this context, however, a comprehensive information concerning the application of Azolla in various organic farming practices is too scanty. Therefore, the present review has been focused to draw a brief account of the various application aspects of Azolla in organic farming practices.

Keywords: Azolla, cow dropping, growth optimization

References

Alcantara, P. F., and Querubin, L. J. (1985). Feeding value of azolla meal for broilers.
Philippine Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences., vol. 11, pp. 1-8.
Ashton, P. J. (1971). Effect of some environmental factors on the growth of Azolla
fliculoides Lam. The Orange River, Progress Report., 123-136.
Becerra, M., Preston, T. R., and Ogle, B. (1995). Effect of replacing whole boiled soya
beans with azolla in the diets of growing ducks. Livestock Research for Rural
Development Volume 7, Article #26. Retrieved February 18, 2016, from
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd7/3/7.htm.
Bortels, H. (1940). On the importance of molybdenum for nitrogen fixation by Nostoc.
Arch. Microbiol., 11:155-186.
Bottomley, W. B. (1920). The effect of organic matter on the growth of various water plants
in culture solution. Annals of Botany., 34(135):353-365.
Bujak, A., and Bujak, J. (2022). Azolla’s Use as a Biofertilizer and Livestock Feed. Ferns.,
671.
Dao, T. T., and Tran, Q. T. (1979). Use of azolla in rice production in Vietnam. In Nitrogen
and Rice, ed. IRRI, pp. 395-405.
Dunham, D. G., and Fowler, K. (1987). Megaspore germination, embryo development and
maintenance of the symbiotic association in Azolla filiculoides Lam. Botanical journal
of the Linnean Society., 95(1):43-53.
FAO (2014). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Euro span
distributor, Rome, London, UK. pp: 39-44. http://ftp://ftp.fao.org/fi/document/fcp/en/FICPTZ.pdf.
Fiogbé, E. D., Micha, J. C., and Van Hove, C. (2004). Use of a natural aquatic fern, Azolla
microphylla, as a main component in food for the omnivorous-phytoplank tonophagous tilapia,
Oreochromis niloticus L. J. Appl. Ichth., 20(6): 517-520.
Griffith, W. (1845). On Azolla and Salvinia. W. Ridsdale.
Huneke, A. (1933). Beitrage zur Kenntnis des Symbiose zwischen Azolla and Anabaena.
Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen., 20:315-341.
Kamalasanana, P., Premalatha, S., and Rajamony, S. (2002). Azolla – A sustainable feed
substitute for livestock. Leisa India, March, 2002, pp. 15-17.
Kannaiyan, S., and Kumar, K. (2006). Biodiversity of Azolla and its algal symbiont,
Anabaena azollae NBA Scientific Bulletin Number – 2, National Biodiversity
Authority, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Page 1 – 31.
Konar, R. N., and Kapoor, R. J. (1972). Anatomical studies on Azolla pinnata.
Phytomorphology., 22:211-223.
Kulasooriya, S. A., and De Silva, R. S. Y. (1977). Effect of Azolla on the yield of rice. Int.
Rice Res. Newsl., 2 (3):10.
Kumari, R., Ojha, M. L., Saini, V. P., and Sharma, S. K. (2017). Effect of Azolla
supplementation on growth of rohu (Labeo Rohita) fingerlings. J. Entomol. Zool.
Stud., 5: 1116-1119.
Lamarck, J. B. (1783). Botanique (Vol. 5). Chez Panckoucke.
Limberger, A. (1925). The query of symbiosis of Anabaena with Azolla II. Mitteilung.
Akad. Wiss. Wien. Math. Naturwiss. K1. Denkschr., 34:1-5.
Liu, C. C. (1979). Use of azolla in rice production in China. In: Nitrogen and Rice, ed. I
Watanabe, pp. 375-394. IRRI, Los Banos.
Lumpkin, T. A., and Plucknett, D. L. (1980). Azolla: Botany, physiology, and use as a
green manure. Economic Botany., 34(2): 111–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02858627
Lumpkin, T. A., and Plucknett, D. L. (1982). Azolla as a green manure; use and
management in crop production. Series No15, pp230, Westview Press; Boulder.,
Colorado, USA Westview Press Boulder Colorado USA 15 (1982) 230.
Mettenius, G. (1847). Über Azolla [About Azolla]. F. Dümmler.
Meyen, F. (1936). Riksmålsforbundet und sein Kampf gegen das Landsmál
[Riksmålsforbundet and its fight against the Landsmál]. Neophilologus., 21(2):149.
Meyen, F. J. F., (1836). Beitrage zur kenntnis der Azollen [Contributions to the knowledge
of the tariffs]. Noua acta Academiae Caesarae Leopoldino Carolinae germanicae
naturae curisosorum., 18: 507-524.
Moore, A. W. (1969). Azolla: biology and agronomic significance. The Botanical Review.,
35(1):17-34.
Mosha, S. S. (2015). Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on natural food composition
and performance of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fry produced under artificial
propagation. MSc Thesis: pp: 1-2.
Pabby, A., Prasanna, R., and Singh, P. K. (2004). Biological significance of Azolla and its
utilization in agriculture. Proc. Indian Natl. Sci. Acad., 70: 299–333.
Peters, G. A., and Mayne B. C. (1974). The Azolla-Anabaena azollae relationship. II.
Localization of nitrogenase activity as assayed by acetylene reduction. Plant Physiol.,
53: 820.
Rains, D. W., and Talley, S. (1979). Use of Azolla in rice production in North America. In:
Nitrogen and Rice, pp. 419-431, IRRI, Los Hanos, Laguna, Philippines.
Ray, T. B., Mayne, B. C., Toia Jr, R. E., and Peters, G.A. (1979). Azolla-Anabaena
relationship: VIII. Photosynthetic characterization of the association and individual
partners. Plant Physiology., 64(5): 791-795.
Shields, L. M., and Durrell, L. W. (1964). Algae in relation to soil fertility. The Botanical
Review., 30(1):92-128.
Singh, P. K. (1979a). Symbiotie algal N2-fixation and crop productivity. In: Ann. Rev. Plant
Sciences, Vol. 1, pp. 37-60 (Edit. 1InLIK, C. P.), Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India.
Singh, P. K. (1979b). Use of Azolla in rice production in India. In: Nitrogen and Rice, pp.
407-418, IRRI, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines.
Stergianou, K. K., and Fowler, K. (1990). Chromosome numbers and taxonomic
implications in the fern genus Azolla (Azollaceae). Plant systematics and evolution.,
173(3):223-239.
Strasburger, E. (1873). Ueber Azolla [About Azolla]. H. Dabis.
Subuddhi, B. P. R. and Singh, P. K. (1978). Nutritive value of the water fern Azolla pinnata
forchicks. Poultry Science., 57:378-380.
Sweet, A., and Hills, L. V. (1971). A study of Azolla pinnata R. Brown. American Fern
Journal., 61(1):1-13.
Tran, Q. T., and Dao, T. T. (1973). Azolla: A green compost. Vietnamese Studies 38, Agric.
Problems. Agron Data., 4: 119-127.
Vouk, V., and Wellisch, P. (1931). Zur Frage der Stickstoffassimilation einiger
symbiotischen Cyanophyceen [On the question of the nitrogen assimilation of some
symbiotic Cyanophyceae]. Acta Botanica Croatica., 6(1):66-75.
Watanabe, I., Espinas, C. R., Berja, N. S., and Alimagno, B. V. (1977). Utilisation of the
Azolla-Anabaena complex as a nitrogen fertilizer for rice. Int. Rice Res. Inst. Res.
Paper series., 11. Manila, Philippines.
Watanbe, T., Sato, K., and Okubo, Y. (1978). Deterioration of 21/4Cr-1Mo Furnace Tube
after Long-period Service at Elevated Temperatures. Journal of The Japan Petroleum
Institute., 21(1):22-27.
Wildemann, L. (1934). Weitere Beiträge zur Symbiose von Azolla und Anabaena [More
articles on the symbiosis of Azolla and Anabaena]. Heinr. and J. Lechte.
Yadav, P. K., Chaudhary, R., Shrestha, S., and Shrestha, K. P. (2014). Farmers’ Perception
on Disease and Insect Incidences in Large Cardamom: A case Study of Mechi Zone,
Nepal. Proceeding of the 1st National Outreach Research Workshop, pp. 9–10.