Why use Azolla in rice? Azolla in association with blue-green alga anabaena can fix atmospheric Nitrogen (N) into ammonia which can be utilized by rice plant when it is incorporated into soil. Azolla contains from 2−5% N, 0.3−6.0% Potassium (K) (dry weight).

What are the benefits of Azolla?

Azolla possesses the desired qualities of a green manure crop, like quick growth, large biomass production, higher nitrogen content and easy decomposability in the soil. It has been further demonstrated that Azolla is a good source of potassium when applied to soils.

How Azolla biofertilizer can improve the yield of rice crop?

Under favorable field condition, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen at a rate exceeding that of the Legume-Rhizobium symbiotic relationship. It increases the rice yield equivalent to that produced by 30-60 kg N/ha. As green manure in water logged soil, it enhances the rapid mineralization of nitrogen.