Journal of Agricultural Science and Botany

Azolla pinnata var. pinnata cultivation and use as a multipurpose crop

Joint Event on International Conference on Plant Science & Natural Products,Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicines
November 15-16, 2018 | Paris, France

Abdul Aziz

University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Keynote : Plant science & Natural Medicine

DOI: 10.4066/2591-7897-C1-001

Abstract:

Azolla pinnata var. pinnata R. Brown, a heat tolerant (up to 41° C air and 42.5° C water temperature at 0.5 cm depth) native aquatic fern was grown in ponds (by foliar spray of 10 kg TSP and 5 kg MP in a solution/ha/day) without nitrogen input and harvested about 10% crop every day which was on an average 1 ton/ha/day with full sun-shine) round a year in tropical Bangladesh. Lowest yield (>800 kg/ha/day) obtained during spring has been attributed to low humidity (50-67%) and lower sun-shine, and highest (1200 kg/day/ha) in late summer with high humidity (>70%). Cost of production was about 12 US$/ton fresh Azolla/ha/day which was sold at about 25 US$. The net income over fish production was estimated to be about 1,800 US$. The low investment and good return every day was lucrative and cost effective. The organism has symbiotic N2 fixer Anabaena azollae that fixes about 600 kg N/ha/year like that of Rhizobia in legumes and contains about 3.5% N, rich in anthocyanin pigment, etc. These features made the organism an excellent feed for fish (production increased over 20%) and poultry (2% sun-dried Azolla granules as food supplement resulted better health and increased egg production by 45%), use as compost or as biofertilizer (Azolla as dual crop and pounding in to the soil before tiller and flower initiations) and raw material for biogas production. Integrated farming with Azolla pinnata var. pinnata could increase productivity, keeping clean environment.

Biography:

Abdul Aziz has completed his PhD at the age of 33 years from Durham University, UK. He is the professor of Dhaka University, Bangladesh. Currently, working as a Consultant, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh. He has over 115 publications that have been cited over 65 times and has been serving as an editorial board member of reputed Journals.

E-mail: dr.aziz.botany@gmail.com

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