November 2018 Punch PDF

ARTICLE
Azolla Feeding of Livestock and poultry during scarcity
of feed: As source of Green Feed
Rajan Mishra and Nitesh Kumar Singh
Department of Livestock Production Management
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
G.B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology-Pantnagar
Azolla is an aquatic fern mostly utilized as Bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy and ponds. It belongs to the family of
azollaceace. The fern Azolla, hosts a symbiotic blue green algae anabaena azolle, which is responsible for the fixation of
atmospheric nitrogen. Azolla may be a very nutritive and cheap organic feed substitute for dairy cattle, poultry, pig, fish
etc. Azolla is rich in protein, almost 25-30 % on dry weight basis; it is also contain essential minerals like Iron, Calcium,
Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper, Manganese etc apart from appreciable quantities of vitamins A and vitamins B12.
It contains almost all the essential Amino acids, many probiotics, Biopolymers and B carotene. The higher crude protein
content (above 23 % on dry matter basis) and presence of essential amino acids (high lysine content) vitamins like A & B and
minerals like calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium made Azolla useful feed supplement for livestock, poultry
and fish. The nutrient present available in Azolla is given below:
Chemical composition of Azolla
S/No. Particulars Per cent (%)
1. Crude protein 26.0
2. Crude fibre 15.6
3. Ether Extract 15.7
4. Ash 30.2
5. Nitrogen free extract Air dry basis
How to grow Azolla
• An artificial water body is made to grow azolla.
• A pit size of 2 mt. length, 1 mt. Width and 20cm depth should be dug on earth.
• The pit is covered with plastic gunnies to prevent the growth of roots of nearby trees, protect the soil temperature and
seepage of water.
• Silpuline plastic sheet / plastic sheet are spread over the plastic gunnies without any fold.
• About 10-15 kg. Sieved soil is uniformly spread over the plastic sheet.
• 5-7 kg compost of cow dung and 40 gms of azophos and 20 gms of azofert or SSP made into slurry in 10 litres of water
and is pour in the pit, then more water is poured to make the water level at about 8 cm.
• About 1.5-2 kg of fresh, pest and disease free azolla seed culture is inoculated in the pit.
• Azolla will fill the pit within 7-10 days. About 1-1.5 kg of Azolla can be harvested daily thereafter
• About 2-2.5 kg of dung, 25 gms of Azophos and about 20 gm of azofert is made into a slurry in 2litres of water should
be given once in 6- 7 days to keep the azolla in rapid multiplication phase and to maintain the daily yield of 1- 2kg/pit
Azolla should be harvested with a plastic tray having holes of 1 sq cm mesh size.
Precaution
• Plants should not be allowed to enter maturity stage or sporulation stage by periodic application of cow dung slurry,
super phosphate and other macro and micronutrients except Nitrogen.
• Temperature should be retained below 29-300C, In case of high temperature; the light intensity should be maintained
by providing shade net or other devices.
• Bio-mass should be removed every day or alternative days to avoid overcrowding. PH should be tested periodically to
see that it never goes below 5.5 and above 7.
• Seed stock is maintained separately and should be treated with pesticides and fungicides.
104 November, 2018