Azolla is a fast growing free floating freshwater fern which fixes atmospheric nitrogen by forming a symbiotic association with a prokaryotic cyanobacterium -Anabaena azollae. It is a cost-effective, eco-friendly biofertilizer in lowland rice fields. As green manure in water logged soil, it enhances the rapid mineralization of nitrogen, improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil and increases soil microbial activities. It increases the rice yield equivalent to that produced by 30-60 kg N/ha. Azolla application is considered as a good practice for sustaining soil fertility and crop productivity.
Kailash Chandra Samal*
Dept. of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India
Laxmipreeya Behera
Jyoti Prakash Sahoo
Samal, K.C., Behera, L., Sahoo, J.P., 2020. Azolla Biofertilizer – The Nature’s Miracle Gift for Sustainable Rice Production. Biotica Research Today 2(9), 971-973.
Ana L. Pereira, 2018. The Unique Symbiotic System between a Fern and a Cyanobacterium, Azolla-Anabaena azollae: Their Potential as Biofertilizer, Feed, and Remediation. In Everlon Cid Rigobelo Ed. Symbiosis. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.70466.
Muhammad Akhtar, Nadeem Sarwar, Arooba Ashraf, Amjad Ejaz, Shafaqat Ali and Muhammad Rizwan, 2020. Beneficial role of Azolla sp. in paddy soils and their use as bioremediators in polluted aqueous environments: implications and future perspectives, Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2020.1786885.
Raja W., Rathaur P., John S. A., Ramteke P. W., 2012. Azolla-Anabaena association and its significance in supportable agriculture. Journal Biology and Chemistry, 40(1): 1–6.