Azolla – The best feed for cattle and poultry

Azolla is a free floating water fern that floats in water and fixes nitrogen in association with the nitrogen fixing blue green algae, Anabaena azollae. Azolla is considered to be a potential biofertilizer in terms of nitrogen contribution to rice. Long before its cultivation as a green manure, Azolla has been used as a fodder for domesticated animals such as pigs and ducks. In recent days, Azolla is very much used as a sustainable feed substitute for livestock especially dairy cattle, poultry, piggery and fish. 

Azolla contains 25 – 35 per cent protein on dry weight basis and rich in essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins and carotenoids including the antioxidant b carotene. Cholorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids are also present in Azolla, while the cyanobiont Anabaena azollae contains cholorophyll a, phycobiliproteins and carotenoids. The rare combination of high nutritive value and rapid biomass production make Azolla a potential and effective feed substitute for live stocks.

Inputs required

Azolla fronds, Polythene sheet, Super phosphate and Cow dung.

Methodology

The area selected for Azolla nursery should be partially shaded. The convenient size for Azolla is 10 feet length, 2 feet breadth and 1 feet depth. The nursery plot is spread with a polythene sheet at the bottom to prevent water loss. Soil is applied to a depth of 2 cm and a gram of super phosphate is applied along with 2 kg of vermicompost or cow dung in the nursery for quick growth. Azolla mother inoculum is introduced @ 5 kg/plot.

The contents in the plot are stirred daily so that the nutrients in the soil dissolve in water for easy uptake by Azolla. Azolla is harvested fifteen days after inoculation at the rate of 50-80 kg / plot. One third of Azolla should be left in the plot for further multiplication. Five kg cow dung slurry should be sprinkled in the Azolla nursery at  ten days intervals. Neem oil can be sprayed over the Azolla at 0.5 5 level to avoid pest incidence.

Animal	Dosage / day
Adult cow , Buffalo, Bullock	1.5-2  kg
Layer, Broiler birds	20 – 30 grams
Goat	300 – 500 grams
Pig	1.5 – 2.0 kg
Rabbit	100 gram

Value of the technology

The egg yield is increased in layer birds due to Azolla feeding. The Azolla fed birds register an overall egg productivity of 89.0 per cent as against 83.7 per cent recorded by the birds fed with only concentrated feed. The average daily intake  of concentrated feed is considerably low (106.0 g) for birds due to Azolla substitution as against 122.0 g in the control birds. More impotantly Azolla feeding shows considerable amount of savings in the consumption of concentrated feed (13.0 %) leading to reduced operational cost. By considering the average cost of the concentrated feed  as Rs. 17/ Kg, a 13.0 % saving in the consumption ultimately leads to a feed cost savings of 10.0 paise /day/ bird and hence a layer unit maintaining 10,000 birds could cut down its expense towards feed to a tune of rs.1000/day.

Benefits
The Azolla feeding to layer birds increase egg weight, albumin, globulin and carotene contents. The total protein content of the eggs laid by the Azolla fed birds is high and the total carotene content of Azolla eggs(440 g 100 g-1 of edible portion)is also higher than the control. The rapid biomass production due to the high relative growth rate, increased protein and carotene contents and good digestability of the Azolla hybrid Rong ping favour its use as an effective feed supplement to poultry birds.

Effect of Azolla hybrid Rong Ping on the nutritional value of egg

Parameters	Azolla egg	Control	percentage increase over control
Egg weight (g)	61.20	57.40	6.62
Albumin (g /100 g of edible portion)	3.9	3.4	14.70
Globulin (g /100 g of edible portion)	10.1	9.5	6.31
Total protein (g/ 100 g of edible portion)	14.0	12.9	8.52
Carotenes (µg / 100 g of edible portion)	440	405	8.64

Application

In Indian conditions, agriculture is very much coupled with poultry farming. Azolla is an important low cost input, which plays a vital role in improving soil quantity in sustainable rice farming. The twin potentials as biofertilizer and animal feed make the water fern Azolla as an effective input to both the vital components of integrated farming, agricultural and animalo husbandry.

Limitation

Azolla is a water fern and requires a growth temperature of 35-38º C. The multiplication of Azolla is affected under elevated temperature. Hence adopting this technology in dry zones where the temperature exceeds 40ºc is difficult.

Achievements

Azolla hybrid Rong ping had been selected to supply to the tribal population. Azolla mother inoculum nursery was  laid out in villages with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, TNAU, Coimbatore and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karamadai,  women entrepreneurs were selected and one day training  was imparted to them  on the cultivation of Azolla. Wet biomass (Starter inoculm) were supplied at free of cost @ 10 kg/women entrepreneur during the training so as to enable them to initiate commercial Azolla cultivation in their backyards.

Azolla multiplication plots had been laid out in Narasipuram. Azolla mass production training was conducted to the SHG in Narasipuram village with the help of Kalaimagal Arts and Science College, Narasipuram, Sappanimadai (tribal village) and Avinashilingam KVK, Karamadai. With the help of Avinashilingam KVK, Karamadai Azolla trainings were conducted to women volunteers and we have established Azolla village in Karamadai. The Avin milk producers union Coimbatore and the poultry owners association,  Namakkal have been contacted and explained the importance of Azolla as feed supplement.

The Milk Producers Union also involved in the training and marketing of Azolla. They are purchasing Azolla fronds from the village level Azolla growers both under wet and dry conditions. Around 400 rural women and 370 tribal people have been trained on the cultivation of Azolla through this project. The Azolla laboratory and the Azolla germplasm center at AC& RI, TNAU, Coimbatore helped us in the maintenance of germplasm by providing the mother inoculum. The Animal Husbandry Unit at AC&RI, TNAU, Coimbatore  helped us in standardizing the Azolla and concentrated feed mixing ratio.

Azolla mass multiplication in pits

Feeding Azolla to Rabbit

Feeding Azolla to Rabbit

Feeding Azolla to Poultry

Feeding Azolla to Poultry

Feeding Azolla to Livestock

Feeding Azolla to Livestock

Inoculating Super phosphate and Cow dung in Azolla pit

Top

---

6. List of Biofertilizer production units in Tamil Nadu

Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Agriculture College and Research Institute,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Dr. S. Anthoniraj
MADURAI-625 104
( 0452-422956 fax: 422785
e-mail: s_anthoniraj@yahoo.com

Biofertilizer Production Unit, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Gundusalai Road, Sommandalam,
CUDDALORE-607 001 (TN)

Biofertilizer Production Unit, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Agricultural Chemist
Sakkottai,
THANTAVUR-612 401 (TN)

Biofertilizer Production Unit, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Jamal Mohd. College Post, Khajamalai,
TRICHY-620 020 (TN)

KRIBHCO
Sidco Garment Complex, Thiruvika Industrial Estate, Guidy,
CHENNAI-32

Regional Research Station
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
PIYUR-635 112
Via-Kaveripattinam
Dharmapuri District
( 04343-50043