Azolla in Nigeria: How Azolla Can Save You Money and Boost Your Livestock Business
As a farmer or livestock owner in Nigeria, you, more likely than not, are seeking ways to reduce your feed costs and increase your profit margin.
It is no longer news that feed accounts for over 70% of the operational costs of most poultry, piggery, cattle rearing, aquaculture, and other livestock operations, as it has become more expensive and challenging to provide adequate and nutritious feed for your animals. The conventional sources of protein, such as soybeans, ground nuts, wheat germ meal, maize, and fish meal are not only costly but also subject to import restrictions, price fluctuations, and environmental issues. This implies that any reduction in feed costs can have a significant impact on your profitability and competitiveness.
Guess what?
There is a better way to feed your animals that is revolutionary, cheaper, more sustainable, and more nutritious. It comes in the form of a wonder plant called Azolla, the real game changer.
In the coming sections, I will expose to you the profound reasons behind its nickname, the unique qualities that make it a marvel, how it stands as a key player in revolutionizing the cost of animal feeds in Nigeria, and how you can cultivate it for use on your farm.
Are you ready?
The beautiful thing about growing Azolla for your use is that it’s so D-I-Y.
Let’s go on this ride.
What is Azolla?
Azolla is a genus of small aquatic ferns that grow in freshwater habitats around the world. It has a symbiotic relationship with blue-green algae called Anabaena azollae. This relationship or alliance is such that the azolla provides a home for the algae as it lives inside the azolla leaves while the algae in return help it fix nitrogen from the air which it then converts into protein.
It can produce up to 10 tons of dry matter per hectare per year, which is equivalent to 2.5 tons of protein. This mutualistic relationship not only contributes to Azolla’s astonishing development but also plays a vital role in environmental conservation.
Azolla can produce its nitrogen fertilizer and grow rapidly in nitrogen-deficient conditions and this incredible growth rate is the very reason behind its nickname –wonder plant– as it can amazingly double its biomass in just 4 to 10 days under optimal conditions, making it one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. This remarkable feat is attributed to that symbiotic relationship with Anabaena, forming a harmonious partnership that propels Azolla into the realm of botanical marvels.
Nutritional Constituent of Azolla
Azolla is not only a fertile plant but also a powerhouse of nutrition for your animals. It contains:
| Nutrient | Quantity |
|---|---|
Protein | 25- 35 % (equivalent to soybean meal) |
Minerals | 10 - 15 % |
Essential amino acids | 7 - 10 % |
Vitamins | |
Antioxidants that protect animals from oxidative stress and diseases | |
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids needed for health and growth | |
Lignin content that makes it easily digestible by animals | Low |
Azolla for use in Nigeria and benefits
With its high protein content, Azolla is an excellent and cost-effective alternative for supplementing animal diets and this significantly reduces the cost of animal feeds in Nigeria. As a result, farmers can experience substantial savings on feed expenses, ultimately contributing to enhanced profitability in the agribusiness sector.
Azolla improves crop yields and soil quality when it is used as a mulch or added to soil or substrate (in the case of a soilless system). This is due to the atmospheric nitrogen stored in its leaves through the inhibition of Anabaena azollae.
In addition to its economic benefits, Azolla actively participates in environmental conservation. Its ability to sequester carbon dioxide and purify water makes it a sustainable choice for agribusiness practices, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change.
Azolla’s wonders extend beyond its role in agriculture. It also serves as a biofertilizer, a protein source for both animals and humans and even as a biofuel. Azolla is cherished as a delightful addition to the culinary repertoire in some parts of Asia. This multifaceted utility positions Azolla as a valuable asset in addressing various agricultural and economic challenges.
Azolla’s accessibility is heightened by its straightforward propagation on water using phosphorus-based fertilizers.
It provides a natural way of pest and disease control in aquatic systems by covering the water surface and preventing the growth of algae, weeds, mosquitoes, and snails. It can also attract beneficial insects and birds that feed on pests.
It can also be mixed with other feed ingredients to improve their nutritional value.
Azolla acts as a biocontrol for mosquitoes and effectively reduces ammonia volatilization, particularly beneficial for mitigating the environmental impact of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.
Different areas where Azolla makes a difference
Poultry
- Increases egg production, egg weight, egg quality, and hatchability.
- Enhances the growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and carcass quality of broiler chickens.
Pigery
- Improves feed efficiency and increases the lean meat percentage.
- Improves the reproductive performance and litter size of sows. and carcass quality of broiler chickens.
Dairy
- Increases milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein
Ruminant
- Improves the growth rate, feed intake, and feed conversion efficiency of beef cattle and sheep. percentage.
Crops
- Increases crop yields by up to 30%
Improves soil health, water retention, and nutrient availability.
Fishery
- Enhances the growth rate, survival rate, feed utilization, and flesh quality of tilapia and catfish
How to Grow and Use Azolla in Nigeria
Materials needed
- A shallow water body, which could be a pond, tank, or bucket but with the ability to receive large amounts of sunlight.
- Male and female Azolla spurs from a reliable source. This is important because the Azolla must be free of contaminants and pests. You can get it here.
Next,
- Fill your water body with clean water and add some organic matter, such as cow dung, compost, or rice husk, to provide nutrients and also some phosphorus fertilizer to boost its growth.
- Spread the Azolla culture evenly over the water surface and let it grow. You can stir the water occasionally to prevent it from becoming stagnant and to distribute the nutrients evenly.
Once you notice the increase in biomass in 4- 10 days, you can start harvesting up to 50% of the Azolla biomass every 3 to 5 days, depending on the growth rate. All you need is a net or basket to scoop it out but be sure not to harvest all at once to keep the regeneration cycle going.
You are then ready to begin incorporating it as a supplement in your animal feed or as a complete feed replacement. Though it can be fed to them fresh or dried, research shows it is better fed to them in its dried form.
You can also incorporate Azolla into your growing substrate or use it as a mulch for your crops. And for fish farmers, be sure to tap into its pest and disease control by spreading it over your water surface.
Conclusion
You should agree with me that Azolla indeed is more than just a wonder plant; it’s a transformative force in the agricultural landscape of Nigeria.
From its rapid growth to its potential for revolutionizing feed costs, Azolla stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability.
Waste no more time.
Embrace the wonders of Azolla today and witness the positive impact it can bring to your agribusiness in just ONE month as it paves the way for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
