Azolla pinnata

1
Azolla pinnata

• in Japanese Akakukikusa, Koakaukikusa
• in Sundanese Kayu apu dadak
• in Sumatera Ganepo
• in English water velvet (America)
• water fern (English)
• Ferny Azolla (Australia)

2

• Benefit of Azolla
• Can grow on water deficient nitrogen compound
• Fix Nitrogen 3-5 kg N/ha/day
• (in the tropics 500-1000 kg N/ha/year)
• Biomass doubling time 2-5 days
• Maximum biomass 30-80 ton fresh weight
• 1.5-4.0 ton dry weight
• 50-150 kg N/ha
• Contain 22-37 crude protein on a dry weight
  basis
• Inoculum 100g/m2
• (20 days 15-20 ton fresh weight/ha)
• Continuous cultur
• Harvesting 22 times/year with the interval
  of 16 days
• cumulative 200-250 ton fresh weight/ha
• In other words
• High Nitrogen content ? organic fertilizer
• High protein content ? feed suplement

3

• Azolla as feed for mule duck
• Ex. Small farm in Sawangan
• 100 mule duck weight 1.1 kg (20 days)
• Research day 21-day 60 (40 days)
• Control commercial starter broiler
• Azolla Drained for one night (fresh)
• Table 1. Feed mixture for mule duck
• No. 1 ? control
• No.2 ? fully recommended
• No. 3 ? Still acceptable

Group Azolla () Com.S.C.B () Mean Weight Gainned (kg)
1 0 100 2.1
2 25 75 1.95
3 50 50 1.7
4 75 25 1.0
4

• Growth requirements
• Temperature 20-35 oC Best 25 oC
• pH 3,5 -10,0 best range 4,5-6,5
• Relative humidity 85-90 Best Subtropic,
  Tropic Dryseason
• Water level shallow Best 5-10 cm
• Fertilizer N, P, K, Ca, Mg, fe, Co, Mo
• Main Phosphorus, low Nitrogen
• Salinity sensitive (max 0.3 )
• Light intensity 25-50
• Fixation 40-60 kLux
• Wind avoid with hedges, dikes

5
Pest

• Arthropoda
• Pyralidae Lepidoptera
• Chironomidae Diptera
• Can wreak havoc
• Tropic high temperature
• High humidity
• Limiting factor
• Gastropoda
• Fungi