Azolla as the multifunctional fern in organic agriculture: Prospects and challenges: A Review Article
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Abstract
Azolla species are the world's smallest but most commercially significant, macrophytes, which float on the water surface and are found in freshwater and brackish waters. Azolla is one of the fastest growing plants on the globe, and it can double its surface area every 5 to 10 days, making it an extremely valuable resource. Anabaena azollae, a cyanobacteria, which is harboured in the leaf lobe of Azolla, is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen while making it accessible to crop plants. Therefore, the Azolla-Anabaena relationship is significant in agronomy. The presence of a symbiotic cyanobacterium, A. azollae, which occupies the dorsal lobe of the leaves, contributes to the system's nitrogen-fixing capabilities. As a result of this characteristic, it has been widely used as a biofertilizer for rice plants. Apart from that, it may be used for a variety of other things, such as food and feed, biofuel production, and heavy metal accumulation. Because it has so many uses, promoting and using the Azolla-Anabaena system in sustainable agriculture would be helpful and good for the environment.
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