How farmers growth azolla species in the world?5 answersFarmers around the world grow Azolla species by following specific cultivation practices. Azolla is commonly cultivated in regions with suitable conditions, such as placid water surfaces, temperatures between 20-35°C, and a pH level of 4-7. In areas like Vietnam, southern China, and the Philippines, Azolla has been adopted as a green manure for rice, with successful growth even without phosphate fertilizers in some cases. Continuous harvesting of Azolla can lead to high protein yields without the need for nitrogen fertilization, making it a sustainable protein feed option. Additionally, research in Malaysia has shown that Azolla thrives best in a water depth of 20 cm, nutrient concentration of 812.5 ppm, pH of 7, and under 100% sunlight exposure, with the dried Azolla containing high protein and fiber content suitable for animal feed and bioenergy production.
Can azolla be used as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilizers for enhancing quail egg production?5 answersAzolla can indeed be a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilizers for enhancing quail egg production. Research indicates that the use of Azolla as a biofertilizer can improve nitrogen use efficiency, increase soil organic nitrogen content, and enhance rice yield. Additionally, Azolla has been found to accelerate the age of sexual maturity in quails, increase body weight at sexual maturity, and improve egg production without affecting feed consumption and conversion. Furthermore, Azolla can be utilized as a protein source in animal feed, enhancing overall performance and egg production in poultry. Therefore, incorporating Azolla into quail diets can potentially lead to improved egg production while being environmentally friendly and economically advantageous.
What are the phytochemicals in Azolla?5 answersAzolla is rich in phytochemicals such as crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and quinones. It also contains secondary metabolites including bioactive principle compounds like docosane, tetradecanoic acid, 9-octadecenal, hexadecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, 6,7-dimethoxy-2-tetralone, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, phenol, 2-methoxy-5-(1-propenyl)-,(E), cycloheptane,1,3,5-tris(methylene), 4-(6,6-dimethyl-2-methylenecyclohex-3-enylidene)pentan-2-ol, loliolide, and cis-2-[2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentyl]ethanol. Azolla also contains C-glycosylflavones such as homoorientin (luteolin 6-C-glucoside) and saponarin (isovitexin 7-O-glucoside). The presence of metallothioneins (MTs) and phytochelatins (PCs) in Azolla indicates its ability to concentrate heavy metals.
How is effective is Azolla Pinnata as fertilizer compared to others?4 answersAzolla pinnata has been found to be effective as a fertilizer compared to others. It has been shown to improve soil fertility and enhance the growth and yield of terrestrial crops. In one study, Azolla pinnata green manure treatment significantly improved soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and cation exchange capacity. It also enhanced the growth performance, leaf width and length, number of ears per panicle, length of panicle ears, number of grains per panicle, and shoot dry matter production of the test crop. Another study found that Azolla pinnata had prime nutritional qualities, including high protein content, carotenoids, amino acids, antioxidants, starch, and fibers. Overall, Azolla pinnata has shown potential as an effective bio-fertilizer for improving soil fertility and enhancing crop production.
What is the trends in the use of azolla as a fertilizer?5 answersAzolla has been studied as a potential biofertilizer for various crops, including dryland vegetable crops and onion. It has been found that Azolla can provide a significant amount of nitrogen (N) to the soil, which is essential for plant growth and development. In laboratory incubation studies, Azolla biofertilizer showed high N availability compared to compost and cyanobacterial biofertilizers. Additionally, field experiments with onion crops showed that Azolla-based K application resulted in higher bulb weight and yield compared to conventional mineral K fertilization. Azolla has also been found to improve soil quality by adding organic matter and providing natural mulch. Overall, the use of Azolla as a fertilizer has shown promising results in increasing crop yield and improving soil health.
How does Azolla affect the growth performance of rice?5 answersAzolla has a positive effect on the growth performance of rice. It increases tiller number, plant height, panicle size, and 1000 grain weight, resulting in higher grain yield. Azolla also promotes root development, with longer adventitious roots observed in rice plants inoculated with Azolla. Additionally, Azolla has been found to improve the photosynthetic efficiency of rice, leading to faster growth compared to non-inoculated controls. The application of Azolla compost at different rates in the soil has shown significant increases in tiller number and spike weight, resulting in higher grain yield. This is attributed to the efficient absorption of nitrogen and other nutrients by Azolla, which promotes assimilate production and translocation in rice plants. Overall, Azolla can be considered a beneficial practice for enhancing the growth and yield of rice, particularly under water deficit conditions.