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Developing Guidelines for Azolla microphylla Production as Compost for Sustainable Agriculture

Ornprapa Thepsilvisut (), Nuengruethai Srikan, Preuk Chutimanukul, Rusama Marubodee and Hiroshi Ehara
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Ornprapa Thepsilvisut: Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University Rangsit Center, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Nuengruethai Srikan: Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University Rangsit Center, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Preuk Chutimanukul: Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University Rangsit Center, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Rusama Marubodee: Department of Plant Production Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
Hiroshi Ehara: International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Azolla is a substitute compost that has the potential to enhance nutrient cycling in agricultural systems for sustainable development. In this study, four experiments were conducted to compare the Department of Agriculture (DOA, Thailand)’s methodology for determining the suitable type and rate of animal manure and the optimal light intensity for the growth and yield of Azolla ( Azolla microphylla ). The results revealed that applying 100% pig manure gave the highest yield of Azolla compared to the other manures. However, there was no discernible ( p > 0.05) difference in yield across the various doses (20.16, 30.16, and 40.16 gN m −2 ) of pig manure treatments, for which the minimal pig manure dosage of 20.16 gN m −2 was chosen. For further experimentation in the optimal light intensity, the 40% shading gave the highest yield of Azolla compared to no shading or 20 and 60% shading ( p ≤ 0.01). When compared with the DOA Thailand methodology (1.27 kg m −2 of cow manure and covered with a size 32 mesh net), the findings indicated that the modified method (20.16 gN m −2 of pig manure + 40% shading) gave a 16% greater Azolla yield than that under the DOA Thailand methodology. The current finding method can produce a monthly fresh biomass of A. microphylla of 40.7 t ha −1 year −1 with higher contents of total N (4.92%) and lower C:N ratio (≤10:1) that could release minerals relatively rapidly. Its use can be encouraged by farmers to produce their own ecofriendly biofertilizer or soil amendment for sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Azolla; manure; shading; nutrient content; fresh biomass yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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