Is Azolla good for ducks?
Inclusion of Azolla, a nitrogen-fixating and non-conventional nutrient source aquatic fern has been reported to increase production performance of ducks. The feeding value of Azolla has been demonstrated in different poultry species such as chicken, ducks, and quail with promising results in performance.
How do you apply Azolla in rice field?
It can be utilized by rice in both wet and dry season. Azolla can be used in two ways: 1) as green manure incorporated before transplanting, and 2) as an intercrop incorporated after transplanting. In each case, about 500 kg (fresh weight) per ha is introduced into standing water in the rice field.
Is rice-duck farming profitable?
The integrated farming of rice and ducks in irrigated fields has long been practiced in China, Japan, and Korea.
How does rice-duck farming work?
The integrated rice-duck farming system (IRDFS) is about growing rice and ducks together in an irrigated paddy field. The paddling movement of the ducks stimulates plant growth, while duck manure naturally fertilizes the soil.
How much Azolla do ducks need?
Azolla as a feed for Mallards Fresh azolla was offered ad libitum three, four or five times per day, at a rate of 1 kg fresh weight per pen at each feeding and the times increased with the age of the birds to minimize losses. The rations were fed from the age of one month to 70 days old.
Can Azolla grow on land?
Although Azolla can grow on wet mud surfaces or wet pit litters, it prefers a free-floating state. Azolla can survive within a pH range of 3.5 to 10, but optimum growth is observed in the range of 4.5 to 7. Optimum temperature for growth and nitrogen fixation depend on the species.
How do I start Azolla farming?
Growing (Production) of Azolla: Mix clean fertile soil with cow dung and water and spread across (uniformly) the pond. To cover the 6 feet X 4 feet pond, 1 kg of fresh Azolla culture is required. Apply this culture uniformly in the pond. Make sure to have the water depth at least 5 to 6 inches in the pond.
How can the rice duck system improve the income of the farmers?
The rice duck farming system aims to facilitate environmental adaptation in the cultivation of rice, and to contribute to food and economic security in the region by reducing the use of pesticides, increasing yield and generating an additional income for farmers.
What relationship exist between the ducks and the rice plants?
The integration of ducks in rice field creates a mutualistic relationship between the rice and ducks yielding benefits to both entities.
Is Azolla farming profitable?
Sale price of Azolla leaves per kg: Rs 300. After 20 days Azolla is harvested @ 1.5 kg/day. So the monthly income from harvesting Azolla is estimated to be: Rs 13,500. The profit from the farm is around: Rs 6,150.
Why is Azolla not growing?
Slow growth of Azolla is usually due to phosphorous deficiency, insect/snail damage, high temperature, intense sunlight or herbicide use.
Can Azolla be used to increase rice production?
Right: Azolla growing between rice plants. The ability of azolla’s symbiont, anabaena, to sequester atmospheric nitrogen has been used for thousands of years in the Far East, where azolla is extensively grown in rice paddies to increase rice production by more than to 50%.
What is the role of Azolla in the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen is the single most limiting factor in rice cultivation, strongly affecting the crop yield. Azolla substantially increases the amount of nitrogen fertilizer available to growing rice and it is has been used for thousands of years as a ‘green’ nitrogen fertilizer to increase rice production.
Can Azolla-Anabaena solve the global food shortage?
Various techniques have therefore been developed to maximize azolla’s nitrogen fertilization, with the result that azolla now has enormous potential to increase rice production worldwide and hence alleviate food shortages. These include methods to increase the availability of the nitrogen assimilated by azolla-anabaena to the growing rice plants.
When to drain Azolla field before transplanting?
If azolla is grown as a monocrop and the field should be drained several days in advance of incorporation. The last mat should be incorporated and the field kept drained for 4 or 5 days before transplanting rice in order to speed decomposition (Lumpkin, 1987a).