Rudo

RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

173, P.K. Street, Tirupati – 517 501. Chittoor Dist., A.P.

TRAINING GUIDE

AZOLLA – A sustainable feed substitute for livestock

Ø     The dairy became main occupation in rural area because of agriculture is receding

Ø     Since growing demand for meat and milk, the animal husbandry became profitable income source for rural poor

Ø     Cultivation of Dwarft crops and decrease in forest and graze lands resulted sustainable decline in fodder production

Ø     The dairy farmers are dependent on commercial feeds

Ø     The commercial feeds are mixed with urea and artificial milk booster

Ø     They Causes effect on quality of milk produced and longevity of the animal

Ø     In turn leads to cancer and coronary ailments in human beings

Ø     Usage of commercial feed is not economical and declines income

Ø     Azolla is the most economic and efficient feed substitute for live stock

Ø     Azolla is a floating fern in shallow water

Ø     Azolla is very rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B12, Beta carotene) and growth promoter intermediaries and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium etc.,)

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Ø     Azolla on dry weight basis is constituted of 25.35% protein content, 10.15% mineral content and 7 – 19% a combination of amino acids, bio active substances and bio polymers

Ø     Carbohydrate and oil content are very low in Azolla

Ø      Azolla can be easily digestible by the livestock, owing to its high protein and low lignin content

Ø     Milk yield increases by 15 to 20%

Ø     15 to 20% commercial feed is replaced by azolla

Ø     Azolla feeding does not affect the milk production, improves quality of milk and health and longevity of livestock

Ø     Feeding Azolla to poultry birds improves the weight of the broiler chicken and increases the egg production of layers

Ø     Azolla can be fed to sheep, goat, pig and rabbits as feed substitute

AZOLLA PRODUCITON

Ø     An artificial water body is made, preferably under the shade of a tree with the help of a silpauline sheet

Ø     A pit of the size of 2 m x 2m x 0.2 m is dug as a first step

Ø     The pit is covered with plastic gunnies to prevent the roots of the near by trees piercing the silpauline sheet

Ø     Spread over the silpauline sheet over the plastic gunnies

Ø     About 10 – 15 kgs. of sieved fertile soil is uniformly spread over the silpauline sheet

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Ø     Slurry made of 2 kg. cow dung and 30 gms. of super phosphate in 10 liters of water is poured into the sheet

Ø     More water is poured to make water level reach about 10 cm.

Ø     About 500 gms. - 1 kg. of fresh and pure culture of Azolla is inoculated in the pit

Ø     Azolla will rapidly grow and fill the pit within 10 – 15 days

Ø     About 500 – 600 gms. of Azolla can be harvested daily thereafter

Ø     A mixture of 20 gms. of super phosphate and about 1 kg. of cow dung should be added once in 5 days to keep the Azolla in rapid multiplication

Ø     Micro nutrient mix containing trace element is added weekly intervals to enhance mineral content of Azolla

Ø     In this method the cost of production of Azolla is less than 65 ps/pit

PRECAUTIONS

Ø     A shady place, preferably under a tree with sufficient sunlight should be chosen for the Azolla production unit. A place of direct sunlight should be avoided

Ø     All corners of the pit should be of the same level so that the water level so that the water level can be maintained uniformly

Ø     Azolla bio mass @ 399 gm. – 350 gm. / sq. mt should be removed daily to avoid over crowding and for keeping the fern at rapid multiplication

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Ø     Suitable nutrients should be supplied as and when, nutrient deficiency is noticed

Ø     Plant protection measures against pests and disease should be taken as and when required

Ø     About 5 kg. bed soil should be replaced with fresh soil, once in 30 days to avoid nitrogen build up and prevent micro nutrient deficiency

Ø      25 to 30% water also needs to be replaced with fresh water once in 10 days to prevent nitrogen build up in the bed

Ø     Replacement of water and soil should be followed by fresh inoculation of Azolla at least once in six months

Ø     A fresh bed has to be prepared and inoculated with pure culture of Azolla when contaminated by pest and diseases

USING AZOLLA AS LIVESTOCK FEED

Ø     Azolla should be harvesting with plastic tray having holes of 1 sq. cm. mesh size to drain the water

Ø     Wash to get rid of the cow dung smell

Ø     Azolla should be mixed with commercial feed in 1 : 1 ration to feed the livestock

Ø     Livestock can be fed directly with Azolla

Ø     Dried Azolla can be powder and added to the regular feed