Abstract: An ever-increasing cost of chemical fertilizers and widening gap between demand and supply necessitated the utilization of biofertilizers as partial substitute to the chemical fertilizers. Azolla has a strong capacity of absorbing potassium from water within the range of 1-50 ppm and the K content of azolla increased in logarithmic form and used for its biomass production (Kannaiyan, 1990). Azollae filiculoides grown with 2 agriculturally important potassic fertilizers (Potassium Chloride, Potassium shulphate) as main plot in eight concentrations (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm of K) as sub-plots in split plot design replicated thrice. Potassium sulphate was superior and significantly produced 3.59 g g-1 of biomass of azolla. With respect to concentration, 40 ppm of K recorded highest biomass of 6.08 g g-1 on 30th day of incubation. Though the biomass production was more during 30th day of incubation and the growth rate was more on 15th day of incubation. The K fertilizer such as KCl and K2SO4 significantly influenced the protein content in azolla during all the days of incubation. The K2SO4 with 40 ppm concentration was significantly superior in maintaining higher protein content in azolla during all the days of incubation followed by 30 ppm of K2SO4 at all the stages of incubation except 90th day of incubation.
Title: Biomass production and protein content of azolla cultured under K enriched water
Author: S.Muruganayaki, A.Jeyachitra, S.Jothimani
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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