Paddy is the most dependable crop of the kharif season, and in states like Bihar it is grown on a vast scale. But if a tiny aquatic plant called azolla is grown alongside the rice in the same flooded field, it can take a real load off a farmer's wallet. That is exactly why azolla is treated as nothing short of a blessing for paddy cultivation.
What azolla actually is
Azolla is an aquatic fern that thrives in a temperate climate, the kind of place that is neither too hot nor too cold. On the water's surface it looks like a thin green layer. On the underside of this fern lives a symbiont, blue green algae or cyanobacteria, which converts the nitrogen in the air into a form plants can use.
A win for both soil and crop
Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for soil health. Because azolla holds it in good quantity, the fertility of the field rises and the shortfall of chemical fertiliser is naturally made up. For this reason, growing azolla benefits the paddy crop and the soil at the same time. Rice needs plenty of nitrogen for healthy growth, and azolla delivers that nitrogen to the field through entirely natural means.
How and when to apply it
The method is simple. About a week after the paddy is transplanted, when the field is full of water, fresh azolla is sprinkled into it. The fern then spreads on its own and keeps supplying nitrogen to the field. The result is a smaller need for chemical fertiliser and a higher yield.
Urea costs down by up to 30 percent
Farmers usually make up the nitrogen shortfall by applying urea, which costs a fair amount of money. Azolla does the same job at no cost. According to Srinivas Kumar, a progressive farmer from Gaya district, using azolla can cut the need for urea and other nitrogen-based fertilisers by 25 to 30 percent. Naturally, when the cost falls, there is room for the farmer's profit to rise.
Relief from the weed problem
Weeds have always been a major headache in paddy farming. Azolla covers the entire water surface, so sunlight cannot reach below. With no light getting through, weeds either fail to grow or grow very little. The direct benefit is that both the cost of weeding and the labour expense come down.
Nutritious fodder for animals too
The benefit of azolla is not limited to the field; it is also very useful in animal husbandry. It contains a good amount of protein, which serves as nutritious feed for cattle. Many farmers grow azolla and feed it to their cows and buffaloes, which improves the animals' health and boosts milk production as well.
