Dimapur, May 15 (MExN): ATMA-Dimapur Kuhuboto Block conducted demonstration on ‘Azolla Cultivation’ and ‘Applications of liming in fish pond’ held at Xelhozhe village, under Kuhuboto Block, Dimapur on May 12.
A press release mentioned here that resource persons were Mlato Swu, ATM (ATMA), Kuhuboto Block and Akavi Holo, BTM (ATMA), Kuhuboto Block.
Mlato gave a brief introduction on the important cultivation of azolla where he describe azolla as a free floating water fern mostly utilised as Bio-fertilizer for wetland paddy and a kind of green fodder grown on water surface. He also illustrated that it can be grown easily in wild environment and even can be grown under environment like polyhouse and greenhouse. It can be grown in large quantities and used as green manure in both kharif and rabi seasons. He also elaborated saying that azolla can fix atmospheric Co2 and nitrogen to form carbohydrates and ammonia respectively. Azolla reduces water evaporation rate from the irrigated rice field and is also used as a supplemental feed in dairy, which helped to increase the milk yield. Azolla feeding also improves the weight of broiler chicken and increasing the egg production in case of layer. Azolla can also be fed to sheep, goat, pig, fish and rabbit as feed substitute.
Holo, briefed the participants on the importance of liming where it refers to the application of various acid-neutralizing compounds of calcium and magnesium. He also elaborated that liming increases total alkalinity in those ponds where acidic soils that are filled with poorly mineralized water with low total alkalinity. He also illustrated that liming also helps in avoiding fluctuations of pH, increases the resistance of soil to parasites and its toxic effect kills the parasites and hastens organic decomposition. Liming also helps in increase of pH to cause the water to clear of suspended particles which help pond productivity by increasing the light available to plants. The programme concluded with a live demonstration and followed by fruitful interaction.
