Introduction of Azolla fern to feed livestock


Azola plant is found in green and red colors in swamps, wetlands, fish farming pools, shallow pit and rivers with low water and ponds. Dairy farmers around the swamps or rivers can easily use this forage to feed livestock.


Azolla is the Azolla Filiculoides family of Azollaceae, an aquatic algae. Azolla is a Greek word composed of two parts of Azo and Olloyo, the meaning of the word is dying. The original habitat was Azola, California, USA. This plant lives on the surface of rice paddy fields, small pools, canals and rivers. This plant lives in rice fields under the rice plant but has no effect on rice plant growth. The plant has many leaves that lie on the surface of the water. The Azole lives in Anobena Seaweed, which fixes nitrogen in the amount of 3 to 5 kilograms per day. The Azulla plant, like a beautiful, yet ruthless carpet, covers all stagnant water and is considered as a serious rival of rice in the use of nutrients and mineral waters of water, which raises the cost of rice cultivation because of the use of more fertilizer. . Azulla algae has unique characteristics, which is highly adapted to the environment. The hanging and suspended roots in the water allow the plant to be moved and easily flush with the flow of water. The Azul starts to multiply once it is fixed in one place, and it covers the whole surface of the water within a short time so that there is no hole in the sun to enter the water. Due to light scarcity, aquatic growth stops like phytoplankton, and as a result, the amount of nitrogen in the water decreases.

Azolla’s environmental needs: Azolas are found in pools, streams and wetlands in tropical regions of the world. The plant grows in water or on wet slimes and disappears after a few hours under dry conditions. Azolas can grow in PH Hybin 3.5 to 10, but the best PH for growth is 4.5 to 7. The optimum temperature for Azolla’s growth is 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, but some species can withstand up to 40 degrees or more. Lower Azul’s growth at higher temperatures makes it good for why, but its competitiveness with algae is reduced. Azola’s growth reduces the amount of soil salinity. The most important factor in Azolla’s growth is water, because the Azulla plant survives for a short time in rosary soils and alternate rains. This is exactly the same as that for green algae, all of which tolerate heat and drought . Azola needs a lot of light and its growth is affected 2 to 3 weeks after the transfer of rice seedlings. P is the most important limiting element of Azolla on Earth. Using phosphorus fertilizer allows the plant to increase its biomass after transplantation, even if the water contained in the phosphorus is small.


Azula has been used more in agriculture in recent years. Before 2006, the use of Azolla was very low, but since 2006, the use of Azola has increased, which is undoubtedly due to the great benefits that this plant has for the agricultural sector.

Advantages of Azolla: The Azulla plant has many advantages, including the following:


1. Nitrogen source of soil: Azola is used to add mineral nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen fixation by Azola plant in different sources is about 53 to 1000 kg per hectare. Nitrogen Azole is released slowly due to the high amount of lignin. About two thirds of the Azul nitrogen is released in the first six weeks. Under flood conditions, 40 to 60 percent nitrogen is released after 20 days and 55 to 90 percent nitrogen is released after about 40 days. The amount of nitrogen in the Azulla plant tissue is about 2 to 6.5 percent, and the ratio of c to n is about 10.


2. Application of Azola in rice cultivation: Rice is one of the most consumed food and is, in fact, the main cause of Azolla’s arrival to Iran. The use of Azola for rice cultivation makes rice transplant ricochetes richer, and less seedlings disappear. With the use of Azola, the dry weight of rice cluster and its protein content increase.

3. Compost and Fertilizer: Using Azola to produce compost and fertilizer reduces the use of chemical fertilizers.

4. Animal food: The use of Azolla is suitable for livestock feed and poultry food, and then we do not need any chemical and energy supplement.


5. Biological use of Azola: Azolia is used as a biologic indicator for the detection of environmental pollution and the provision of anticancer drugs and allergies.

6. Supply of energy: In South-East Asia, it is used to provide energy when they can not use Azola.

Can Azolas be used in human nutrition?

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